Universities across the country have started to extend “test-optional” policies for undergraduate applicants as the pandemic wears on.
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
Winter Storm 2021
Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state’s power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say
Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Dwindling food, flooded halls, unflushable toilets: Texas’ university dorms descend into chaos during winter storm
The past week of power outages and water shortages have been particularly challenging for college students living in large residence halls who are unable to see their families or access supplies like extra clothing, food or a car.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Former top aides say Attorney General Ken Paxton received assistance with home remodel, job for alleged girlfriend in return for helping political donor
A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.”
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams
Lawmakers have filed legislation that would ban transgender girls and women who attend public K-12 schools, colleges and universities from playing on single-sex sports teams designated for girls and women.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M officials say moving Sul Ross statue is no longer an option, but students say the university never made that clear
University officials said Wednesday that the decision to keep the Ross statue in place is not a new one, and that the diversity committee that has been studying the issue for the past three months was never considering removing the statue.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M again delays decision on moving Sul Ross statue, as committee warns inaction will damage university
“While some universities have attempted to ignore demands surrounding symbols, names and iconography, in the majority of cases, they have been unsuccessful, and by inadequately addressing the issue, increased reputational damage,” a committee report says referring to the debate about the Confederate monument.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Baylor students must test weekly for COVID-19. Those who keep missing tests could lose Wi-Fi access.
The new weekly test requirement is possible with the help of a new multimillion-dollar, on-campus lab that produces test results in less than 24 hours.
Posted in
Politics
Wendy Davis says Trump supporters harassing a Biden bus in Texas should have served as a warning before U.S. Capitol riot
The former state senator, speaking publicly for the first time about the October incident, said she was not surprised by last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, criticizing Republicans for emboldening Trump supporters to act lawlessly.
Posted in
Health care
UT-Austin keeping most classes virtual through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County
The flagship university in Austin is urging students to space out their return to campus for spring semester to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as cases in Travis County reach record highs.
