EDUCATION: Higher Education

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, sits at his desk in the House Chamber on April 3, 2013. Pitts' HB 1 the Appropriations Bill will be heard on the House floor Thursday, April 4th.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, sits at his desk in the House Chamber on April 3, 2013. Pitts' HB 1 the Appropriations Bill will be heard on the House floor Thursday, April 4th.

Some Limits on UT System Regents Remain in Budget

Altered versions of amendments attached to the budget in the House specifically limiting the authority of the University of Texas System regents survived the conference committee process and remain in the final report on Senate Bill 1.

On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.

Higher Ed Graduations Increase, Board Finds

Texas public universities awarded more than 50,000 bachelor’s degrees in spring 2013, an increase of more than 5,000 from 2012, according to preliminary data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.

New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor's desk.

Some Limits on UT System Regents Remain in Budget

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, sits at his desk in the House Chamber on April 3, 2013. Pitts' HB 1 the Appropriations Bill will be heard on the House floor Thursday, April 4th.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, sits at his desk in the House Chamber on April 3, 2013. Pitts' HB 1 the Appropriations Bill will be heard on the House floor Thursday, April 4th.

Altered versions of amendments attached to the budget in the House specifically limiting the authority of the University of Texas System regents survived the conference committee process and remain in the final report on Senate Bill 1.


Higher Ed Graduations Increase, Board Finds

On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.

Texas public universities awarded more than 50,000 bachelor’s degrees in spring 2013, an increase of more than 5,000 from 2012, according to preliminary data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.


New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.

UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor's desk.


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Texas Tribune Higher Education Explorer

Enlarge graphic by: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond

Nominations Committee Approves UT Regent Nominees

Senators Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Edinburg, l, Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio listen to SB 1 budget debate wrap-up on March 20, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Senators Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Edinburg, l, Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio listen to SB 1 budget debate wrap-up on March 20, 2013.

The Senate Nominations Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to approve Gov. Rick Perry's three nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents. The nominees must still be confirmed by the full Senate.

House Signals Approval for Campus Construction Bonds

Students cross a bridge over a resaca on the University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southmost College campuses on Monday.
Enlarge photo by: Eddie Seal
Students cross a bridge over a resaca on the University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southmost College campuses on Monday.

The Texas House gave tentative approval to billions of dollars in bonds for campus construction projects on Monday. The version it approved totaled nearly $2.7 billion, up from about $2.4 billion initially approved by the Senate.

Report: Not Just What You Study but Where That Matters

Students listen to their instructor, Curtis Collins, during their Pumps, Compressors and Mechanical Drives class at Texas State Technical College Waco.
Enlarge photo by: Callie Richmond
Students listen to their instructor, Curtis Collins, during their Pumps, Compressors and Mechanical Drives class at Texas State Technical College Waco.

Looking to make the most money after college? It may not just be a matter of what one studies but also where one studies — and according to a new report, the institutions with the highest-paid graduates might surprise you.

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TribLive: A Conversation with Kel Seliger

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Amended South Texas University Bill Passes Senate

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, talks to a colleague on the Senate floor after being the only Democrat to vote yes on HB1 the state budget, which passed the Senate, 20-11 on May 28, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, talks to a colleague on the Senate floor after being the only Democrat to vote yes on HB1 the state budget, which passed the Senate, 20-11 on May 28, 2011.

The Texas Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a controversial committee substitute to House Bill 1000, which creates a new university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

Coordinating Board Nears End of Tough Sunset Process

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Raymund Paredes sits in the Senate gallery awaiting the end of the session on May 30, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Raymund Paredes sits in the Senate gallery awaiting the end of the session on May 30, 2011.

UPDATED: House lawmakers on Wednesday put their stamp of approval on a measure that would keep the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in business for another 12 years. But they tacked on a few more amendments. 

 

Martinez Fischer Grills UT System Regent in Hearing

University of Texas Regent Brenda Pejovich ponders a question at the Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations on May 14, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
University of Texas Regent Brenda Pejovich ponders a question at the Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations on May 14, 2013.

During a tense meeting of the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations on Tuesday, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer asked UT System Regent Brenda Pejovich about the controversy surrounding the system board's governance.

Campus Carry Bill Passes Senate Committee

House sponsor State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, stands among House members during the consideration of a point of order on HB 972 a campus carry bill on May 4, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemrmich
House sponsor State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, stands among House members during the consideration of a point of order on HB 972 a campus carry bill on May 4, 2013.

A measure by state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, that allows college students, faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns on campus is heading to the full Senate after a committee approved the measure Tuesday.

Fund for Veterans' Tuition Exemptions in the Works

Service members and their families from Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, participate in the Veterans Day parade in San Angelo, Texas, Nov. 6, 2010.
Enlarge photo by: Staff Sgt. Heather L. Rodgers
Service members and their families from Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, participate in the Veterans Day parade in San Angelo, Texas, Nov. 6, 2010.

Legislative leaders are working to establish a permanent endowment to help alleviate some of the financial costs public universities incur educating veterans and their family members, who are exempted from tuition and most fees.