Professors want to leave Texas because of tense political climate, survey says
Professors’ concerns included the state’s DEI ban and new limits to faculty influence at colleges and universities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f3f6a8966f1427847b05b5391e821d8/HigherEd%20TK%2005.jpg)
-
![The main building of the University of Texas at Austin, in 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. Brandon Creighton’s switch from lawmaking to Texas Tech leader signals a new era for higher ed
More Texas universities are turning to politicians to lead their systems, preferring political clout over academic credentials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/784308d393747dd5fe6d20b1f5615bcc/Hegar%20Creighton%20Zerwas%2001.jpg)
![From left: Glen Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M System; Brandon Creighton, sole finalist for Texas Tech chancellor; and John Zerwas, chancellor of the UT System.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas launches downloadable form to exempt kids from school-required vaccines
Previously, parents had to wait for the state to mail them the exemption form. They still have to get the form notarized before submitting it to the school for enrollment purposes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e151f513f2cc4452d4c24ce1a486046a/Under%20Five%20Vax%20JR%2011.jpg)
![Mateo Cardona, 4, receives a vaccine in Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston on June 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Texas student groups sue to block state law that limits campus protests
The law, largely in response to pro-Palestinian protests last year, bans "expressive activity" on campuses from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The lawsuit says it is overly broad and will affect protected speech. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f47548ab132bf47acfc66d3433d9f6a0/0429%20UT%20Protest%20JS%2007.jpg)
![Law enforcement leads a pro-Palestinian protester away in custody as they begin to remove demonstrators from an encampment set up in support of Gaza on the UT-Austin campus on April 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Brandon Creighton named sole finalist for Texas Tech chancellor
The Conroe Republican has authored some of Texas’ major higher education legislation in recent years. U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington was also considered for the job. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8de6f34c19b7ee19244adb26d4706714/0601%20Senate%20Heads%20BD%2031.jpg)
![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, on the Senate floor on the second-to-the-last day of the 89th legislative session on June 1, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Regents name sole finalist for Texas A&M International University president
Christopher Maynard is slated to be the next leader of the Laredo university. Regents on Thursday also approved construction projects and new limits on faculty senates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/94dfb8b3fd34fbf80b25dff1ab7b540f/TAMIU%20LW%2003.JPG)
![Texas A&M International University on Feb. 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Jodey Arrington, Brandon Creighton being considered for Texas Tech System’s top job
Arrington represents Lubbock in Congress. Creighton is a longtime state lawmaker. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8f38a40a06b7de1cd2193cf6d6a81d7/Arrington-Creighton%20Split.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, left, and state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe.]()
Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via REUTERS, Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
More than 800 new laws went into effect in Texas on Sept. 1. Here are some of the significant ones.
New laws range from school vouchers and water infrastructure funding to a ban on city and county-funded abortion travel funds. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6a9c6280e1ecdab73d680c22c722079/0630%20Texas%20Capitol%20RB%20TT%2020.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol in Austin June 30, 2025.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Texas universities could see fewer international students amid immigration crackdown, reports say
An enrollment drop could cost the Texas economy hundreds of millions of dollars, the reports say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/98e367ca2618ff96b90206efce0b5021/0224%20UNT%20Campus%20ST%2005.jpg)
![Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on February 24, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Champions of truth and democracy, the Tribune’s fall fellows are eager to represent and serve Texas
Student fellows support vital initiatives like the Texas Tribune Festival and provide in-depth coverage of key issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d42185be97d5121cfa4364b214a12c1d/2025%20Fall%20Fellows%20.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
“Bathroom bill” advances in Texas House days after tensions flared at hearing
Senate Bill 8, which now heads to the House floor, would restrict which bathrooms in government buildings transgender people would be allowed to use. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d60d25874abffb3753e874e223f941d7/0822%20Bathroom%20Bill%20BD%2001.jpg)
![House Sergeant-At-Arms, l, and Texas DPS argue with a witness who was later removed from the hearing for rowdyness against HB 8 in THe House State Affairs Committee meeting on August 22, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
UT System nixes faculty senates, approves restrictions on campus protests
The changes are in response to new state laws seeking to limit faculty’s influence and put guardrails on campus demonstrations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6fe2b1c18064aa7144f86fa7ab1ae2f/0428%20UT%20File%20LW%2002.jpg)
![A view of the UT Tower from the business building on the UT Austin campus during finals week on April 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Confusion reigns as Texas colleges scramble to comply with ban on in-state tuition for undocumented students
The state isn’t providing schools with guidance and advocates say students who still qualify for lower rates are being asked to pay thousands more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1a373ee5000a982b92b84a415a5a38b/0817%20In%20State%20Tuition%20DACA%20HM%2001.jpg)
![Katerin M.S., 24, a graduate student in social work at the University of Houston, works full time as a case worker while managing her schoolwork. Covered by DACA, she is among those advocates and attorneys say have lawful presence and should remain eligible for in-state tuition. Despite this, the university initially raised her tuition. Katerin stands outside her work office on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in Houston. “I saw the email when I got to work. Even just thinking about it makes me emotional. I couldn’t escape from it. I literally cried. I felt like I was in a cage — like if you don’t pay it or you don’t do what they tell you by Aug. 8, that is what’s due, and that is what you’re going to have to pay,” she said.]()
Credit: Hope Mora for The Texas Tribune -
Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues
In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/efb3762704374792a32d45591ceb29f5/0323%20West%20Texas%20Protest%20DB%2007.jpg)
![Protesters marched against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March. 23, 2023.]()
Credit: David Bowser for The Texas Tribune -
Texas State System dissolves faculty senates, eroding professors' influence on campuses
While other universities move to preserve the advisory bodies, Texas State will abolish them under a new state law that curtails faculty’s influence on campuses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2673b6aa13cb3a6996d20b108d4f6bf3/Texas%20State%20Campus%20LS%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Texas State University campus in San Marcos in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
From racism claims to a $725,000 settlement, a UNT professor's lawsuit mirrors Texas' shifting views on free speech
Professor Timothy Jackson was accused of making racist remarks at the height of the racial reckoning that followed George Floyd's murder. His free speech suit against the university comes to an end in the era of DEI bans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f364fbbcd2062f80e9257d72eab62276/0214%20UNT%20File%20MC%20TT%2007.jpg)
![McConnell Tower is framed by The Sustaining Arch at the University of North Texas in Denton on Feb. 14, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M System’s new leader hints faculty senates in state leaders’ crosshairs will stay
In an interview with the Tribune, Chancellor Glenn Hegar also said he would prioritize student outcomes over big projects and skirted questions about diversity and academic freedom. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d40493ee2d7d2ce6540740c929b68706/0722%20Glenn%20Hegar%20Chancellor%20CS%20103%20CROPPED.jpg)
![Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar, center, meets with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Duane Wagner, left, and Lance Bullard before a crash test at the Texas A&M RELLIS campus in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Hegar’s visit to the RELLIS campus was his first since beginning his tenure as chancellor on July 1.]()
Credit: Cassie Stricker for The Texas Tribune -
UT System names John Zerwas as chancellor, Jim Davis as UT-Austin president
Both Zerwas and Davis had been serving as interim leaders of the university system and its flagship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d7df84a72ff5060e22c1a3abd3703ef/02_Medical_School_Bill_MG_TT.jpg)
![Then-state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, speaks to pages on the House floor on April 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Canceled Baylor LGBTQ+ study stirs strong reactions in Waco
A grant to help churches better minister to LGBTQ+ people prompted fury. A decision to return the grant then spurred disappointment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/281f26911f64aea1108c5793751e40f1/250710_AB-Waters_005.jpg)
![Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University graduate AB Waters poses for a portrait on June 10, 2025 in Waco, Texas. AB has worked to make Baylor University more inclusive of LGTBQIA+ students. Justin Hamel/ the Waco Bridge/ Report For America/ CatchLight Local]()
Credit: Justin Hamel/ The Waco Bridge/ Report For America/ CatchLight Local -
Texas Tech University System leader says he will retire this year
Texas Tech Chancellor Tedd Mitchell has led the 64,000-student university system since 2018. His departure will mark the latest shake-up in the state’s higher ed leadership. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1ba8f04b2c2ba93b99119467f643c3f9/0923%20State%20of%20Higher%20Ed%20EL%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Tedd L. Mitchell, chancellor of the Texas Tech University system, speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2022 in Austin, TX. Mitchell announced he is stepping down from the position.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune