In the five years since Abilene Christian University began preparing for the freshman class of 2011, the private West Texas university with fewer than 5,000 students has done just that, transforming itself into perhaps the most technologically innovative campus in the state.
Higher Education
Coverage of universities, colleges, student issues, and education policy shaping Texas’ campuses, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Community Colleges Leery of Guns on Campus
State Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, has filed legislation to allow licensed handgun owners to carry concealed weapons on community college campuses. But some campus police fear it could actually put students and faculty in more danger.
Posted in
Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: A $10,000 Degree?
For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders on issues of the moment, we asked whether colleges can deliver on Gov. Rick Perry’s prompt for a $10,000 bachelor’s degree.
Posted in
Higher Education
Community Colleges Uneasy as Ax Hangs Over Health Benefits
The Legislature’s initial budget proposals to close four community colleges caught many lawmakers off guard. But what largely escaped their attention — the slashing of health benefits across all such institutions — concerns community college officials the most.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Already Has a $10,000 Degree — But for How Long?
Gov. Rick Perry has challenged Texas universities to develop a bachelor’s degree costing no more than $10,000, books included. As it turns out, there already is a $10,000 bachelor’s degree here — and the Legislature may be on the verge of eliminating it.
Posted in
Health care
The Texas Tribune Weekly TribCast: Ep 66
This week’s episode of the TribCast features Evan, Ross, Reeve, and Ben mulling over the State of the State, the new House committee assignments, and the politics of abortion.
Posted in
Higher Education
Students Rally for UT Funding
Cries of “Texas fight” and “It’s 8:45, and we’re still underfunded” rang across a crowd of nearly 100 students, who marched to the Capitol this morning to rally for adequate funding for the University of Texas.
Posted in
Higher Education
Senators Call Tuition Set-Aside Theft, Secret Tax
One state senator calls it “a 20 percent backdoor secret tax” on those paying for college. Another argues that eliminating it would help create a Texas with a “have-and-have-not culture.” And some students say the the tuition set-aside program mandated by the state in 2003 is just plain theft.
Posted in
Higher Education
University of Texas President Bill Powers Hospitalized
University of Texas President Bill Powers has been hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism.
Posted in
Economy
Perry to Push Colleges to Offer $10,000 Degree
Gov. Rick Perry will challenge the state’s colleges and universities to offer a $10,000 bachelor’s degree, including books, in his State of the State speech later this morning, according to sources familiar with some of the proposals.