College tuition in Texas is poised to climb slightly in 2018
Citing inflation and state funding worries, most public universities in Texas are raising tuition by a few percentage points for 2018. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/University_Tuition_Money.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Matthew-Watkins-2024.png)
Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Latest Contributions
-
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
University of Houston regents vote to create a medical school
University of Houston System regents voted unanimously Thursday to create a medical school. Now, they'll have to convince state leaders that it's the right move. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/09/05/UH_Campus_MS_TT.jpg)
![University of Houston students on campus on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Fired in 2009, football coach Mike Leach still rages at Texas Tech and Texas law
Eight years after Texas Tech fired football coach Mike Leach, Leach is still fighting his old school for money he thinks he's owed. But a law protecting state entities from lawsuits is hampering his efforts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/11/01/TT_Mike_Leach_TT.jpg)
![Former Texas Tech football head coach Mike Leach holds up a team jersey before the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California on Dec. 27, 2004.]()
Credit: U.S. Navy/Matthew Clayborne -
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says he will not seek re-election
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, announced Wednesday he will not run for re-election. He did not rule out running for higher office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/10/25/__95I2930_Straus.jpg)
![House Speaker Joe Straus announces to the Capitol press that he will not seek re-election in 2018, opening up the speaker's race to a number of candidates for the 2019 session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Patrick asks Senate panel to study free speech on Texas college campuses
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking Texas senators to study whether free speech rights are being infringed on college campuses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/15/_95I9666_Patrick_.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick before hitting the gavel to begin a Senate session Aug. 15, 2017, the day before the end of a first called special session of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Democratic lawmaker faces $3 million legal malpractice judgment
Texas state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. owes a legal company nearly $3 million after a federal judge ruled against the Democratic lawyer from Palmview in a malpractice case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/4119730825_64d1d7b6b5.jpg)
![State Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr.]()
-
Accrediting committee recommends no punishment for Baylor over sexual assault scandal
Baylor University's accreditation appears to be safe after a special committee investigating the school found that it was in compliance on a number of key issues. Full Story
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M Commerce offers $10,000 degree — but discourages freshmen from pursuing
At the urging of Gov. Rick Perry, Texas A&M University-Commerce developed an online degree program that can be completed for less than $10,000. So why doesn't it want its freshmen to sign up? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/10/17/AM_Commerce.jpg)
![Lavelle Hendricks, a professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce, teaches a "signature course" on mental health, drugs and alcohol to a class of freshmen. University officials have reimagined the first-year experience at A&M-Commerce, and each freshman is required to take at least one signature course.]()
Credit: Texas A&M University-Commerce -
For former state Rep. Dunnam, Baylor is family — and now a legal foe
Jim Dunnam counts 26 Baylor University degrees in his family — and he worked for years on its behalf in the Texas Legislature. Now, he's suing the school on behalf of 14 women who were sexually assaulted while students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/10/12/Jim_Dunnam_2_LS_TT.jpg)
![Attorney Jim Dunnam in his office in Waco, Texas on Thursday, October 5, 2017. Dunham is a former state representative who is suing Baylor University on behalf of 11 sexual assault victims. Dunnam was named Young Lawyer of the Year by Baylor University in 2001. He also received his undergraduate business degree and a law degree from Baylor.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
As longtime UNT chancellor departs, inaction on student debt is his lingering worry
Lee Jackson, the retiring University of North Texas System chancellor, had a lot to say during a Tuesday interview about how he plans to stay engaged until the end — and beyond. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/10/04/UNTD_Graduation_Dec_2015_TT.jpg)
![Outgoing University of North Texas System Chancellor Lee Jackson.]()
Credit: University of North Texas
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/94fddb0a7cf215532e549cf8eb4005fd/.crookedbaylor)