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Higher Education
Coverage of universities, colleges, student issues, and education policy shaping Texas’ campuses, from The Texas Tribune.
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Higher Education
University of Texas selects new director — and new name — for its conservative institute
The University of Texas at Austin selected Justin Dyer to run The Civitas Institute, formerly referred to as the Liberty Institute. The center raised concerns among faculty after The Texas Tribune reported UT-Austin worked with conservative donors and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to bring the institute to the flagship UT campus.
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Higher Education
Settlement with conservative free speech group forces University of Houston to keep amended anti-harassment policy
The conservative group Speech First argued that the anti-discrimination policy restricting “offensive speech about personal characteristics such race, ethnicity or gender” violates students’ First Amendment rights. The university agreed to keep its amended policy as part of a settlement.
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Higher Education
Professors behind conservative-backed “Liberty Institute” say UT has strayed from plan
Emails obtained via an open records request show two professors who helped develop the new center believe UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell backed off a plan to bring “intellectual diversity” to campus.
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Higher Education
UT-San Antonio reaches Texas Tier One status, allowing access to state funds for research
UT-San Antonio is the fifth public university in Texas to achieve Texas Tier One status.
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Higher Education
Baylor will rename campus area and relocate statue of slave-owning former university president
The Baylor Board of Regents approved a four-step plan to change the name of a campus quadrangle named after a slave-owning former university president and add more elements to provide a better representation of Baylor’s history.
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Higher Education
Texas A&M board takes next step toward Fort Worth expansion
The board agreed to spend $85 million on a law and education building and another $85 million on a research and innovation center.
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Higher Education
Carlos Hernandez tapped as Sul Ross State University interim president
After shifting from his role as Sam Houston State University’s chief financial officer, Hernandez will focus on student recruitment and bolstering academic programs at Sul Ross to combat declining enrollment.
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Unconventional Wisdom
Analysis: Texas is great — and ought to be better
Texas is a great state, but there’s a lot of work to do, and it starts with the public — and what Texans really want. The political class isn’t going to do this on its own.
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Unconventional Wisdom
Analysis: The case for big ideas in Texas government
Texas political leaders usually settle for caution. The big stuff is risky, but it’s also possible — and even inspiring — to see leaders ignoring the small stuff and aiming higher.