Texas colleges pitch quick credentials as a first step toward higher wages. But students often fall off the path.
Short-term certificates can only take a few weeks to get but don’t always lead to better earnings or higher degrees. Full Story
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Kate McGee is an Austin-based enterprise and investigative reporter. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 as a higher education reporter. She was a three-time finalist for the Education Writers Association's Beat Reporter of the Year award, winning the title in 2024. She was also a Livingston Award finalist for her coverage of the University of Texas at Austin. Before the Tribune, she spent nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations nationwide, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University.
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![Angela Ramirez poses for a portrait in Austin on Nov. 13, 2024.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to freeze tuition at Texas colleges and universities for another two years
The governor’s directive extends a tuition freeze for Texas’ public universities that was approved in the last legislative session. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M regents overrule faculty, cut 52 “low-producing” programs including LGBTQ+ studies minor
After conservative criticism over the LGBTQ+ minor, university officials started looking at all its programs. Faculty say they were excluded from the process. Full Story
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![Students walk across the Texas A&M campus on Aug. 20, 2024, in College Station.]()
Credit: Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribune -
Texas State University condemns demonstrators who brought offensive signs to campus
The university is exploring potential legal responses after two men came on campus the day after the election with misogynistic and homophobic signs. Full Story
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![Students walk through an area known as “The Quad” on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on August 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas judge accused of breaking law after asking his university students to vote for him
A candidate running against the judge accused him of emailing his students at Texas State to vote for him. State law prohibits using public resources for political advertising. Full Story
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![Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 30, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas students can now see which state public universities would accept them before they apply
Students can enter their class rank, grade point average, and standardized test scores to get a list of universities to which they’d be admitted. Full Story
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![Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitte’s contracts after public loan project scandal
The examination of Deloitte’s existing contracts comes after it failed to catch red flags in a company’s application for a loan to build or upgrade power plants in the state. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick adjourns for the day on the eighth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial on Sept. 14, 2023. Paxton’s defense attorneys rested their case that evening.]()
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Texas A&M International University president dies
Pablo Arenaz died unexpectedly Thursday night, according to a university statement. He served as president of the university in Laredo for eight years. Full Story
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![Pablo Arenaz, sixth president of Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), died last night.]()
Credit: Texas A&M International University website -
Free speech or political intimidation? A jury says this Trump Train organizer crossed the line.
Eliazar Cisneros was accused of organizing and participating in a Trump Train that used harassment and intimidation to prevent others from exercising their support for a candidate. Full Story
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![Defendant Eliazar Cisneros leaves the courtroom after Trump Train trial at the United States Courthouse in downtown Austin Monday September 23, 2024. The seven-member jury ordered Cisneros, a chef and Navy veteran, to pay the bus's driver, Tim Holloway, $10,000 in compensatory damages. It also levied $30,000 in punitive damages against Cisneros, to be shared among the plaintiffs.]()
Credit: USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Co -
Jury clears all but one defendant in Texas “Trump Train” trial
Six Trump supporters were accused of intimidating a Biden campaign bus in 2020. Both plaintiffs and defendants saw Monday’s verdict as a victory. Full Story
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![Former state Sen. Wendy Davis and bus driver Tim Holloway arrive at the Trump Train trial at the United States Federal Courthouse in downtown Austin Thursday Sept. 12, 2024.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Imagesvia REUTERS