After years of challenging the University of Texas at Austin’s use of affirmative action in federal court, Edward Blum will now try to end the practice in state court.
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 in
Higher Education
California’s Texas travel ban creates confusion in college sports
The decision to ban California state employee travel could have an effect on Texas’ ability to host California teams and NCAA championship events. But no one knows for sure.
Posted inState Government
Citing religious refusal of adoption rule, California bans state travel to Texas
California state agencies, universities and commissions won’t be allowed to send their employees to Texas after the California attorney general declared a Texas law discriminatory.
Posted in
Ballpark Figures
Texas A&M reigns, UH gets a boost in Texas college sports revenue
Texas A&M University is the revenue king for Texas college sports — for now, at least. The University of Houston received a big boost. Check out some highlights from our college sports money app.
Posted in
Higher Education
Prairie View A&M names Ruth Simmons, the former leader of Brown, interim president
Ruth Simmons, the longtime president of Brown University, has been named interim president of Prairie View A&M University.
Posted in
Higher Education
Prairie View A&M President George Wright says he’s stepping down
Prairie View A&M University President George Wright is stepping down after 14 years. He says he will return to the school’s faculty and focus on research.
Posted in
Higher Education
How Baylor’s new president plans to move the school past scandal
“We are a different university than we were one, two, three, five years ago,” says Baylor President Linda Livingstone, who aims to help the school move past its recent sexual assault scandal while turning it into a tier one research school.
Posted in
Higher Education
In a year of cuts, the Texas Legislature boosted financial aid for college students
Lawmakers voted to increase funding for the state’s top college financial aid program by 10 percent. That means the share of students who qualify for the program but don’t get it due to a lack of funding will be cut in half.
Posted in
Higher Education
McRaven on his UT System future: “I want to see the direction the board is going”
With about half a year left on his contract, University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven said no decision has been made about his future of his job. “I have to find out if the board wants me to stay,” he said.
Posted in
Higher Education
In the Texas Capitol this year, university leaders’ worst fears never materialized
University leaders were worried about tuition freezes, funding cuts and other major changes this past legislative session. For the most part, they didn’t happen.
