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The latest higher education news from The Texas Tribune.

  • How the Human-Powered Gym Works

    By Elise Hu

    At Texas State University, one 30-minute workout can generate enough electricity to power a laptop for three hours. Watch as the director of campus recreation explains how elliptical machines and treadmills are harnessed into alternative energy. Full Story 

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  • TribBlog: Excellence for Aid?

    By Elizabeth Titus

    A previously rejected proposal that would give TEXAS Grants to college students based on academic merit, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis, saw the light again on Wednesday — but old tensions still linger about who should get a piece of the nearly $615 million financial aid pie first. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Medical Mission?

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Are Texas medical schools missing a social conscience? Many fare poorly in a new study that ranks them based on their contributions to meeting the nation’s health care needs. Full Story 

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  • The Unkindest Cuts

    By Nathan Bernier, KUT News

    One advocate says he feels "numb" at the thought of the state's community colleges slashing another 10 percent from their budgets at a time of record enrollment growth. Cuts in spending on facilities and equipment are likely coming, as KUT's Nathan Bernier reports. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    M. Smith's interview with the new chair of the Texas GOP, Philpott on Republicans and Tea Partiers living in harmony, Aguilar on Immigration and Customs Enforcement's not-yet-released strategic plan, Ramshaw's tragic tale of out-of-state kids in Texas treatment centers, Grissom on how budget cuts could impact juvenile justice, Stiles' awesome new population app, Galbraith on the decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, Hamilton's interview with the commissioner of higher education and the debut of Hu's new video debate series: The best of our best from June 14 to 19, 2010. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Raymund Paredes: The TT Interview

    By Reeve Hamilton

    In 2000, higher education in Texas languished compared to other states, and a plan was adopted to “close the gaps” by 2015. A decade later, the commissioner of higher education tells the Tribune that bold steps still need to be taken. But can we afford to take them? Full Story 

    Texas Higher Education Chairman Raymund Paredes.

  • An Interview with Raymund Paredes

    By Reeve Hamilton

    In 2000, Texas higher education in Texas was languishing behind other states and a plan was adopted to “close the gaps” by 2015. A decade later, Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes tells the Tribune that significant change is still needed. Full Story 

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    Credit: Reeve Hamilton

  • Going the Distance

    By Reeve Hamilton and Grant Derigo

    Increasing numbers of college students are attending classes, and even completing some degree programs, online — an innovation that could be welcome in an era of rising enrollments and shrinking budgets. But virtual higher ed has its critics, who say the distance learning model will never match what one lawmaker terms the "interpersonal Aristotle style" of education. Full Story 

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  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Ramsey on what the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll says about the governor's race, education, immigration, and other issues; Grissom on a far West Texas county divided over Arizona's immigration law; Ramshaw talks health care reform and obesity in Texas with a legendary Dallas doctor; M. Smith on the Collin County community that's about to break ground on a $60 million high school football stadium; Aguilar on the backlog of cases in the federal immigration detention system; Philpott of the Green Party's plans to get back on the ballot; Hu on the latest in the Division of Workers' Comp contretemps; Mulvaney on the punishing process of getting compensated for time spent in jail when you didn't commit a crime; Hamilton on the fight over higher ed formula funding; and my sit-down with state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin: The best of our best from May 24-28, 2010. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacqueline Mermea

  • Gaming the Systems

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Should we base the funding of state universities on course completion rather than enrollment? The commissioner of higher education says yes. Some state lawmakers say no — not until we attack the manipulation of the financing formula by the higher ed lobby. Full Story 

    Rep. Mike Villarreal during New Day Rising.
    Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo

  • A Lousy Grade

    By Ross Ramsey

    More than two-thirds of Texans say their confidence in the state's public schools ranges from shaky to nonexistent, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. A majority of Texans believe that crime, low academic standards, lack of parental involvement and not enough funding are "major" problems that public schools face — but two-thirds say "too much religion in the schools" is not a problem. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • On the Records: Paycheck U.

    By Kosaku Narioka

    Today we're adding another 17 agencies to our government salaries database, an extra 67,000 workers who collectively earn $2.9 billion in public payroll. The database now has records on more than 550,000 employees working at 62 of the largest state agencies, cities, universities, counties and mass-transit authorities. Full Story 

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    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller, Jacob Villanueva