The latest higher education news from The Texas Tribune.
“STEM,” an acronym for “Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” is a term that is becoming increasingly common across education circles. But why is it so important? We put the question to several key Texans in the field. Full Story
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The chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on recent criticism of the agency, its relationship with Texas community colleges and the future of higher education in the state. Full Story
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Even if the odds of its continued existence are high, the ground is being laid for a very serious conversation about the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s structure and operations when lawmakers convene next session. Full Story
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Emails obtained by the Tribune suggest the outcry that could follow if UT-Austin President Bill Powers were dismissed in a manner similar to that of recently reinstated University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan. Full Story
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Texas A&M University is entering into a partnership with Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth to create a new law school that will be known as the Texas A&M School of Law at Texas Wesleyan University. Full Story
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The state is in a unique negotiating position when someone wants to file a lawsuit over a contract: You can't sue the state without the state's permission. Full Story
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Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced today that Compass Group, a major private company based in North Carolina, will be taking over dining and support services at Texas A&M University. Full Story
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UPDATED: University of Texas at Arlington President James Spaniolo told the Tribune that he is not leaving due to any outside pressure or internal dissatisfaction. "It just reflects a personal decision on my part," he said. Full Story
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A Texas A&M University System-led team has won a federal contract to develop one of three new national centers for developing and manufacturing medicine and vaccines to respond to pandemic diseases and bioterror threats. Full Story
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On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will announce the creation of new centers for developing "vaccines and medicines used to protect health in emergencies." That could be big news for the Texas A&M University System. Full Story
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With the longtime director of the University of Texas at Austin's Community College Leadership Program departing, some are worried about the program's future. But officials at UT say they are committed to the program. Full Story
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A report calling for a new temporary state agency to oversee the state's community colleges has leaders at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board fuming. Full Story
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Hoping to boost the University of Texas at Austin's four-year graduation rates significantly, President Bill Powers on Wednesday while addressing incoming freshmen emphasized the benefits of graduating in a timely fashion. Full Story
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A Texas A&M University-San Antonio instructor says she no longer has classes to teach because of questions she raised about the placement of crosses near the campus. Full Story
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On May 15, the Community College of Qatar, the country's first community college, graduated its inaugural class of 11 students. It couldn't have done it without Houston Community College, but their partnership hasn't always been easy. Full Story
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After a review, the state auditor's office confirmed Friday that Texas Tech University and the University of Houston are indeed the first institutions eligible for money from the state's tier-one award fund. Full Story
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As Texas A&M University prepares to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its campus in Qatar, planning has already begun for the next decade. Full Story
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In the Chronicle of Higher Education's latest ranking of compensation for public college and university presidents, three of the top 10 earners come from Texas — and they're actually system chancellors. Full Story
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In his commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin on Saturday, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates included a display of support for the school's embattled president, Bill Powers. Full Story
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Aaronson on why the latest Texas job gains are a mixed bag, Aguilar on the fight over an Eagle Pass coal mine, Batheja on nasty U.S. Senate race ads, Galbraith on El Paso's water woes, Grissom on John Bradley's tough primary, Hamilton and M. Smith on the controversial chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, Murphy's cool higher ed stats interactive, Ramsey talks to Robert Draper about what's wrong with Congress, Ramshaw on Joe Barton vs. himself, Root on Perry's Mitt embrace and my exclusive sit-down with the chancellor of the UT System: The best of our best content from May 14-18, 2012. Full Story
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