Once again targeting higher ed, Texas lawmakers limited faculty influence, campus speech this session
Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b120fb35e44181fe5014f9e18d953f9a/0224%20UNT%20Campus%20ST%20TT%2002.jpg)
-
![Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on Feb. 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
What to know about Texas ending in-state tuition for undocumented students
Some implications of the ruling ordering the policy’s end are still unknown. College access experts urged affected students not to withdraw from school while they assess their options. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2c2db04d4a6c61f0dce367c69f9544c4/UTEP%20MAY19%20JAJ%2008%20TT.jpg)
![Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas Tribune -
Undocumented students rethink their college dreams after Texas cuts their access to cheaper tuition
Thousands of undocumented students who grew up in Texas now face college tuition costs that are more than twice what other state residents pay. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/48972742fc7d38710fbc17cd9cbf69e8/0608%20Undocumented%20Tuition%20SF%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Jorge poses for a portrait on Sunday, June 8, 2025 in Lockhart, TX. Jorge had planned on transferring from Austin Community College to Texas State University but cannot afford the out of state tuition. He is planning to take classes through a Mexican university online. On June 4th a federal judge invalidated the law known as the "Texas Dream Act" which went into law in 2001. The law was largely uncontroversial when it passed with few votes against it but its end is being celebrated by Republican lawmakers in the Texas house and Governor Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Undocumented students ask judge to let them challenge sudden loss of in-state tuition
Their filing says the lawsuit that struck down in-state tuition for undocumented students was “contrived” to keep their voices out. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dcc9547b3bf9f1d2c718343c4507b641/Campus%20Voting%20DR%20TT%2055.JPG)
![Students on the University of Texas at Arlington campus in Arlington on Sept. 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans pioneered in-state tuition for undocumented students. Now they’re celebrating its end.
In 2001, Texas Republicans saw expanding college access for certain undocumented students as a way to build an educated workforce. Now, some GOP lawmakers feel only U.S. citizens should receive those benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35a9ee737d30fbc6a1ed545637084bf5/Perry%20SOS%202003%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Governor Rick Perry delivers his State of the State speech to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Feb. 12, 2003.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas’ undocumented college students no longer qualify for in-state tuition
Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d336410cf72665ddb57373fd44f430e/UT%20Austin%20Covid%20File%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
School vouchers, THC ban, property tax cuts: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did in the 2025 regular session
The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, with state GOP leaders checking off nearly everything on their to-do lists. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af0e284d192e1616f6685c4cd7167a31/0526%20House%20Floor%20EG%20TT%2025.jpg)
![State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, looks out the window from the Texas House of Representatives chamber as the lawmakers debate on bills at the Texas Capitol, on Monday, May 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas colleges will soon be able to pay their athletes
House Bill 126, which allows student athletes to receive a slice of the billions Texas colleges generate in revenue from their teams, now awaits the governor’s signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f4ac6467b75a1ffbb1713ef63d7feaa8/UT%20Football%20EG%20TT.jpg)
![The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on August 31, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Daily Texan -
Lawmakers approve bill limiting protests at public universities
The proposal is largely in response to massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year. Critics say it would walk back free speech protections that conservatives advocated for in previous legislative sessions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c61926e39c6d0cc26de0f9870127dc6/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Protestors chant at Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as they begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestine Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Bill to give political appointees more oversight over Texas universities wins final passage
The latest version of the proposal eliminates language that would have required university curricula not to advocate that “any race, sex, ethnicity or religious belief is inherently superior to another.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5fd507963acae20ff3dd640b67874375/Texas%20State%20Campus%20TT%20LS%2004.jpg)
![Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Meet the Tribune’s 2025 summer fellows
Fellows learn from experienced Tribune professionals, while bringing fresh perspectives, enthusiasm and valuable skills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/faaabee132d2ae1b17e33edd9dfcf8b7/Lede%20Grid%202%20-%202025%20Summer%20Fellows.jpg)
![The Texas Tribune welcomes a new group of fellows this summer.]()
-
TribCast: Higher education and the battle for Texas universities
The gang talks about the Texas Legislature’s efforts to rein in universities, and all the changes at the top. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8e60dc0726647929cc87892f3dc58417/TribCast%20May%2020.jpg)
![A student walks across the campus at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville on Aug. 20, 2020.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Faculty and students blast Texas House panel for limiting testimony on bill that targets state universities
The House's higher education committee closed registration to testify on Senate Bill 37 less than half an hour after the hearing started. About 20 people said they didn't get to address lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ec9f3542b5dd02b1ccdf1faee83d2e05/0515%20Hands%20Off%20Higher%20Ed%20LW%20TT%2005.jpg)
![University students and faculty gather at the Texas Capitol’s outdoor rotunda on May 15, 2025 to speak against Senate Bill 37, which would allow the government to reshape courses and governance in higher education.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future events
Sen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e3231680e838eb7231331483b47692b6/0429%20UT%20Protest%20JS%2013.jpg)
![Texas Department of Public Safety troopers surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Texas at Austin campus on April 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
After immigration crackdown, international students in Texas self-censor to protect their education
Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/686c16d9b8fe8430b7e939646866639e/0504%20LS%20International%20Students%2011.JPG)
![International student Tim poses for a portrait at UT-Austin on May 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
UT System announces $100 million investment into civic leadership school
The money will help pay for a permanent home for the school on UT-Austin's campus. Conservative donors and lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, helped create the school in 2023. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/17096103f8477658fa141213e02c7016/0508%20Civic%20Leadership%20LW%20TT%2011.JPG)
![From left: Interim President Jim Davis, Gov. Greg Abbott, UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and UT Dean of the School of Civic Leadership Justin Dyer sit during a press conference in the Life Sciences Library at the University of Texas campus on Thursday, May 8, 2025. They spoke on a new $100 million investment the state would make in UT’s new School of Civic Leadership.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
UT-Dallas’ new president will be Prabhas Moghe, regents say
Moghe, Rutgers University’s chief academic officer, is a biochemical and biomedical engineer and a former international student. He is expected to start in his new role later this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b4efb96fc049d9b9be05bd0c0a03f0d7/Prabhas%20V%20Moghe%20UTD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Prabhas V. Moghe as the sole finalist for the next presidency at The University of Texas at Dallas.]()
Credit: University of Texas System website -
Texas Senate panel advances bill that would no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition
The bill would overturn a two-decade-old law allowing some undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85bcd9e43952d6f3fa9b3b377adf3281/Sam%20Houston%20State%20U%20MF%20TT%2014.jpg)
![Students walk across the campus at Sam Houston State University on Aug. 20, 2020, in Huntsville.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee advances legislation that targets state’s universities
Senate bills that reduce the influence of faculties and restrict protests on college campuses were voted out of committee in a last-minute meeting Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33188a3000061e5a6842a4d171494c76/UT%20Tower%20TK%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The University of Texas at Austin campus.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
UT System chancellor leaves to lead University of California
Former state Rep. John Zerwas will temporarily replace Chancellor JB Milliken in leading the 256,000-student university system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e4884db4a286f1b8183f2cea205107e/08%20UT%20Board%20of%20Regents%20EW%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Then-UT System Chancellor James Milliken at a regents meeting in Austin on April 2, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune