Allegations filed in the first five months of the new ombudsman’s work challenged course content, DEI, academic freedom and employment disputes.
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
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
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.
Posted in
Higher Education
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.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT System, community colleges complying with Texas’ DEI ban, auditors find
The state’s spot review found Texas public colleges were not using diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campuses.
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Higher Education
Mock funeral mourns death of academic freedom before UT System updates rule on cutting programs
College students and professors are protesting with mock funerals across Texas, saying universities are dying from political interference. School officials say they’re responding to shifting needs.
Posted in
State Government
Texas American Muslim University sued by Paxton, accused of misleading would-be students
TexAM is accused of misrepresenting itself as a university and adopting branding too similar to Texas A&M. Its leaders say they were already complying with state demands.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Tech discipline against law student over alleged Charlie Kirk comments stands after court ruling
University officials issued a written reprimand for the alleged comments. The lawsuit argues Texas Tech violated her free speech rights.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas State University professor’s firing after Israeli-Palestinian comments blocked
Philosophy professor Idris Robinson argued that his comments, made in an off-campus setting, were protected speech.
