Lesa Roe has been named sole finalist for the University of North Texas System chancellor’s job. She’ll be the first woman to hold that post.
Matthew Watkins
Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. He is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended Texas A&M University and has spent his entire professional career in Texas journalism, including stints at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined The Texas Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. He has helped guide the Tribune's award-winning journalism that has included coverage of six legislative sessions, multiple election cycles, natural disasters and political scandals. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Posted inState Government
White nationalist rally at Texas A&M University has been canceled
The white nationalist rally planned on the campus of Texas A&M University has been canceled, officials confirmed Monday.
Posted in
Higher Education
White nationalist rally at Texas A&M to feature Richard Spencer; counterprotest planned
A College Station white nationalist is planning a rally on the campus of Texas A&M University that will feature the infamous self-described “alt-right” leader Richard Spencer. Students are already planning a counterprotest.
Posted in
Higher Education
Baylor ordered to turn over records from sexual assault investigation
A federal judge has ordered Baylor University to hand over recordings, notes and other key documents from its infamous Pepper Hamilton investigation, which found that Baylor repeatedly mishandled allegations of sexual assault.
Posted in
Higher Education
What it means for Texas colleges if Trump targets affirmative action
There’s not much room in federal law for the U.S. Department of Justice to target Texas schools for the use of affirmative action, but a lawsuit pending in state court could spell trouble for race-conscious admissions at the University of Texas at Austin.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas universities forced to trim their budgets, even with big state cuts averted
Leaders at many of the state’s top public universities have ordered across-the-board budget cuts for the next school year, even though they avoided their worst funding fears during the 2017 legislative session.
Posted in
Higher Education
At some Texas universities, students accused of rape can transfer without a record
Universities are required to investigate when a student is accused of raping another student. But if the accused transfers, his or her new school may never know about the past allegations.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Federal judge throws out effort by UT professors to overturn campus carry
A federal judge said that three professors suing the state to block campus carry didn’t present any “concrete evidence to substantiate their fears” that the law would have a chilling effect on free speech.
Posted in
Higher Education
As Baylor regent, top Austin lobbyist called drinking female students “perverted little tarts”
As a Baylor University regent, prominent Texas lobbyist Neal “Buddy” Jones described female students who he suspected of drinking alcohol at parties as “perverted little tarts.”
Posted in
Higher Education
Two of the three highest-paid public university leaders are from Texas
University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp earned $1.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
