The state’s higher education agency recommends Texas lawmakers revamp funding for public universities that rewards schools for student success.
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.
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Higher Education
Texas invested billions to fight cancer. Abbott’s H-1B visas restrictions may stall research, some warn
MD Anderson is a global leader in cancer research, tapping hundreds of foreign-born scientists. Now Gov. Greg Abbott’s restrictions on H-1B visas may limit the talent pool.
Posted in
Higher Education
Faculty groups suing Texas Tech want block on rules limiting instruction on race, gender, sexual orientation
The professor groups want the rules suspended as their case proceeds. The lawsuit alleges the university’s restrictions are discriminatory and a violation of free speech.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2027
Texas agencies must cut spending by 3% under new order from Abbott, Patrick and Burrows
The Big Three framed the move as a way to keep Texas fiscally conservative and help fund priorities like property tax cuts. Public education and school vouchers were exempted.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M president’s five-year contract includes $1.25 million in base pay
The terms for Susan Ballabina, promoted in May, include possible merit bonuses and deferred compensation, records show.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas college watchdog received nearly 70 complaints, opened one investigation, records show
Allegations filed in the first five months of the new ombudsman’s work challenged course content, DEI, academic freedom and employment disputes.
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Higher Education
UT fires public radio station leader who challenged university statements about festival security
KUT’s Debbie Hiott believes University of Texas officials terminated her because she publicly pushed back against administration claims that the station’s security plans for an inaugural festival were insufficient.
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Politics
Texas Tech QB who placed bets will not play amid Big 12 lawsuit, legal threat from Paxton
A Lubbock judge blocked the NCAA from banning quarterback Brendan Sorsby despite an acknowledged gambling addiction.
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Higher Education
Teaching restrictions prompted half of surveyed Texas Tech faculty to alter courses, results show
A faculty senate survey found professors altered or were asked to change material in 277 courses after Texas Tech’s restrictions on race, sexuality and gender.
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Texas affordability crisis
Gov. Greg Abbott to Texas colleges: Don’t increase tuition, fees
The governor said undergraduate tuition and fees should stay frozen after some public university systems weighed increases.
