West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler faces no-confidence vote from faculty after canceling drag show
Faculty say the decision to take a vote on whether to condemn Wendler was the final straw in a host of issues with him. Full Story
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![Students rallied against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March 23, 2023.]()
Credit: David Bowser for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House OKs bill that would fund community colleges based on their performance
Under this new model, community colleges would receive state funds based on the number of graduates who earn certificates or degrees and the number of students who transfer to four-year universities. Full Story
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![Houston Community College’s Northeast Campus on April 26, 2022, in Houston.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves bill barring professors from “compelling” students to adopt certain political beliefs
Critics say Senate Bill 16 is overly vague and will create a chilling effect that will prevent important conversations about race and gender. But Republican supporters say the legislation is necessary to protect conservative students who are self-censoring in the classroom. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
How Republicans’ threats to tenure and diversity might undercut their own efforts to advance Texas’ universities
Texas lawmakers are poised to create a new multibillion-dollar endowment to boost emerging research universities in national rankings. But faculty members say banning diversity offices and tenure would stymie those efforts. Full Story
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![Nearly 40 protestors with Texas Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion join in chants against HB1 Rider No. 186, which would defund DEI initiatives at public universities, at the State Capitol rotunda on Mar. 23, 2023.]()
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Texas Senate approves bill restricting which college sports teams transgender athletes can join
The bill will now head to the Texas House where enough lawmakers have already expressed support to approve a similar bill. Gov. Greg Abbott has also said he supports the measure. Full Story
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![The Texas Longhorns face the Iowa State Cyclones on March 12, 2022, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.]()
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Texas Senate budget writers propose billions for teacher raises, lower property taxes and water projects
The Senate Finance Committee’s proposals won’t be voted on and sent to the full chamber until April. Full Story
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![The Senate chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune -
West Texas A&M University students file free speech lawsuit after president cancels campus drag show
The lawsuit comes after protests each day this week, calling for university president Walter Wendler to reinstate the drag show and step down. Full Story
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![West Texas A&M University students gathered in protest against the university president’s decision to cancel a student-organized drag performance on March. 23, 2023.]()
Credit: David Bowser for The Texas Tribune -
Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to students
Texas is attempting to address the fentanyl crisis gripping schools by having staff learn how to administer lifesaving medication. Full Story
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![Narcan nasal spray at an opioid educational training class with Callie Crow, the founder of Drew's 27 Chains, on March 31, 2022, in Caddo Mills.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades women
Students and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendler’s portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights. Full Story
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![West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler addresses the crowd at the WT Festival of Lights and winter carnival in Canyon on Dec. 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Cuviello/Amarillo Globe-News/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own college
Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has filed legislation that would establish The Civitas School of Civic and International Leadership as a formal college at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate’s priority bills on higher ed would end tenure, diversity policies
The bills are part of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s list of priorities and, if passed as filed, could have profound impacts on how Texas universities recruit top faculty and other employees. Full Story
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![University of Houston students back on campus in Houston on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, after Hurricane Harvey.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Tech basketball coach Mark Adams suspended over “racially insensitive” comment
The head coach is also being investigated for allegedly spitting on a player during a game earlier in the season. Full Story
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![Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mark Adams reacts after the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock on Feb. 25, 2023.]()
Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS -
Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications
The Texas A&M, Texas State and University of Houston systems are the latest to make changes after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in their hiring practices. Full Story
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![John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, speaks during a press conference at the PalmWood Event and Conference center in downtown Fort Worth on May 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Republican Texas lawmakers rally around bill restricting the college sports teams transgender athletes can join
Seventy-seven Texas House Republicans signed on as co-authors to state Rep. Valoree Swanson’s bill extending restrictions on transgender athletes to college sports. Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed support for the legislation, which is also a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Track athletes at a school track meet.]()
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UTEP gave research role to former Border Patrol official accused of sexual harassment
Tony Barker received an unpaid fellowship to make him “less risky” for other universities to hire him, emails show. Full Story
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![Tony Barker, left, and Jeffrey Self, center, were given research fellow titles by Victor Manjarrez Jr., right, the director of UTEP's Center for Law and Human Behavior. All three are retired Border Patrol executives.]()
Credit: University of Texas at El Paso -
TribCast: The politics of diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with higher education reporter Kate McGee about Texas leaders’ push to limit the role of diversity in hiring on college campuses. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
University of Texas System pauses new diversity, equity and inclusion policies
The system leaders’ decision comes weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in hiring. Texas A&M University also recently changed its hiring practices. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Dallas on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ shortage of mental health care professionals is getting worse
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already short supply of therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. Full Story
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![AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 14, 2023: Communities in Schools staff members Christy Mitchell, Dorothy Garza and Amara Nitibhon (left to right) pose for a portrait at Langford Elementary School in Austin, Texas on February 14, 2023. (Photo by Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Questions of faith and belonging on center stage at Waco forum
The Belief and Belonging Festival in Waco takes aim at people’s assumptions about their faiths — and what it means to embrace or leave them. Full Story
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![The Founders Mall on campus at Baylor University in Waco on Dec. 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Travis County DA drops domestic violence case against fired UT-Austin basketball coach
Chris Beard was arrested in December for allegedly strangling his fiancee. The university fired him last month. Full Story
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![Chris Beard, head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team, during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, at the Moody Center in Austin on Nov. 16, 2022.]()
Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS