The university said content of the graduate course, which was already underway, was not adequately disclosed, forcing the cancellation. The professor disagrees.
Jessica Priest
Jessica Priest covers higher education, working in partnership with Open Campus. She joined the Tribune in 2022 as an engagement reporter in the ProPublica/Texas Tribune joint investigative unit, contributing to a series that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the explanatory reporting category. Prior to the Tribune, Jessica worked for the Fort Worth Report, USA Today, the Victoria Advocate and the Temple Daily Telegram, reporting on topics that included criminal justice, the environment and local government. Her work has often made an impact. The state’s highest criminal court granted a death row inmate a new trial after she detailed a prosecutor’s conflicts of interest. After she exposed questionable hirings and payments at a port and later a water district in another part of the state, both public entities underwent reforms. Jessica was born in Houston and graduated from Sam Houston State University.
Posted in
Higher Education
University of North Texas to offer free tuition for some incoming freshmen
The program will cover tuition and fees for new freshmen from Texas families earning up to $100,000.
Posted in
Higher Education
Were your Texas college courses reviewed or changed this semester? Tell us.
Amid new policies restricting instruction on race, gender and sexuality, The Texas Tribune seeks examples of college course changes from students and instructors.
Posted in
Higher Education
About 200 Texas A&M courses could change due to new restrictions on teaching gender, race
With the semester set to begin next week, professors have been directed to alter courses, and some classes have been removed or reassigned from the core curriculum at the College Station campus.
Posted in
State Government
From school vouchers to flood warning systems, these are the Texas developments to watch in 2026
Several court hearings and policies affecting education, health and more will roll out in the new year.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M System declines to reinstate fired lecturer despite faculty panel’s findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M System tightens restrictions on discussing race and gender in class
Under the new rules, discussions on “race or gender ideology,” sexual orientation or gender identity appear to be barred from introductory-level courses.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas universities deploy AI tools to review and rewrite how some courses discuss race and gender
Records obtained by The Texas Tribune show how universities are using the technology to reshape curriculum under political pressure, raising concerns about academic freedom.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Tech System limits how race and gender can be taught, says faculty could face discipline for noncompliance
Tech, now the second Texas public university system to add similar teaching restrictions, had earlier directed faculty to follow state and federal guidance recognizing only two sexes.
Posted in
Higher Education
Faculty panel: Texas A&M wrongly fired professor after gender lesson
Texas A&M did not have good cause to fire a professor after a video of a gender lesson created a political storm, and the school failed to follow due process, a faculty appeal committee found.