Most other invited universities have rejected the administration’s offer tying priority federal funding to campus policy changes.
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
Texas A&M System to vote on requiring prior approval for lessons that advocate “race and gender ideology”
The proposal appears to mark the first time a Texas university system offers definitions of what kind of instruction related to race and gender should not be permitted.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas lawmakers say colleges have to balance free speech with duty to keep discourse civil
Legislative panels were created after Republican leaders criticized students mocking or celebrating conservative activities Charlie Kirk’s death.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M faculty panel report says professor’s firing violated her academic freedom
University officials dispute the faculty council’s conclusion. Melissa McCoul lost her job after a video of a classroom debate went viral.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT System will push to enforce campus protest bans that judge temporarily blocked
A judge said the university can’t be trusted to enforce a state law that bans overnight “expressive activity,” among other restrictions, in a constitutional way.
Posted in
Higher Education
Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuition
Yass, a school voucher supporter and an influential figure in Texas politics, said the only condition for the gift was for the school not to receive government funding.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M paid former president Mark A. Welsh III $3.5 million after he resigned
Welsh had pushed for a full payout of the remainder of his contract, something that appears to have been a source of tension between Welsh and top administrators, records show.
Posted in
Higher Education
Federal appeals court will reconsider West Texas A&M drag show ban
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday tossed a three-judge panel’s earlier ruling that found the ban violated students’ free speech rights. The court’s 17 judges will rehear the case.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Republicans are redefining higher ed. It’s creating confusion about free speech on campuses.
Some students and professors say recent changes and scandals chill speech at universities. Others argue that conservative opinions can now be shared more freely.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas AG Ken Paxton to investigate UNT for not disciplining students accused of celebrating Charlie Kirk killing
Paxton called on the university to expel the students. Free speech experts have previously criticized state leaders who laud Kirk as a free speech champion while seeking to discipline those who have celebrated his death.