President Denise Trauth oversaw years of growth at Texas State as it became a Hispanic Serving Institution, a Texas Emerging Research University and underwent the most construction projects since the university’s founding.
Kate McGee
Kate McGee is an Austin-based enterprise and investigative reporter. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 as a higher education reporter. She was a three-time finalist for the Education Writers Association's Beat Reporter of the Year award, winning the title in 2024. She was also a Livingston Award finalist for her coverage of the University of Texas at Austin. Before the Tribune, she spent nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations nationwide, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and primarily raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fordham University.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
From free tuition to concert tickets, Texas colleges lure students and employees to get vaccinated
Texas public universities forbidden from mandating vaccines are trying to entice students and faculty to get the shot. Those moves come as more people ages 18 to 29 years old in Texas are being hospitalized with the virus.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT-Arlington becomes latest emerging research university to reach “Texas Tier One” status
UT-Arlington is the fourth public university in the state to earn this distinction, out of eight schools aiming for the title, which allows the school to tap into an additional $6.2 million in funding.
Posted in
Higher Education
NCAA declines to punish Baylor over handling of sexual assault allegations but criticizes university for “moral and ethical failings”
The report comes after investigations revealed Baylor leaders failed to report allegations of student sexual misconduct and protected football players accused of such behavior.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas universities, committed to full returns, face fall terms with surging COVID-19 numbers and no mask mandates
Many public university officials say they are moving forward with reopening plans as faculty and students worry about rising COVID-19 cases across the state.
Posted in
Demographics
UT hired consultant for up to $1.1 million to revamp battered image of “Eyes of Texas” song
The consultant, Brad Deutser, is listed as a member of the committee tasked with chronicling the full history of “The Eyes.” But some students who spoke with him said they felt he was trying to convince them to accept the school’s position on the song.
Posted in
Higher Education
Baylor University stirs anger and confusion as it opens the door for first LGBTQ student group
The decision to openly consider recognizing an LGBTQ group while simultaneously affirming the university’s belief that marriage is between a man and a woman raised concerns among supporters and opponents who say Baylor is trying to “have its cake and eat it, too.”
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott allocates $94.6 million in federal money to help students and colleges recover from pandemic-fueled problems
Most of the money will be used to help Texas colleges and universities expand or add new programs in areas with employment shortages and provide additional aid to students.
Posted in
Politics
Wendy Davis, others sue law enforcement and Trump supporters over “Trump Train” harassing Biden bus in Texas
The plaintiffs argue the Trump supporters engaged in political intimidation when they surrounded the Biden campaign bus in October, in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, and that police “turned a blind eye to the attack.”
Posted in
Politics
Whistleblowers say Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is distorting testimony to get their lawsuit dismissed
The former aides are taking issue with a brief and a press release issued this month in which Paxton’s lawyers asked an appeals court to throw out the case. The aides allege Paxton fired them for reporting his alleged illegal behavior to authorities.
