Some faculty members call the pressure to return to face-to-face instruction a callous decision that prioritizes money and the college experience over the safety of the university community.
Higher Education
Coverage of universities, colleges, student issues, and education policy shaping Texas’ campuses, from The Texas Tribune.
Sam Houston State University canceled its in-person graduation and fall sports — but hosted a Tiffany Haddish comedy show
The school allowed up to 675 students into its indoor Johnson Coliseum to watch comedian Tiffany Haddish on the first day of classes.
UT planning to limit stadium capacity to 25%. Here’s what you need to know about Texas college football during the pandemic.
Texas schools in the Big 12 and SEC are still planning to play this fall.
TribCast: Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket and the state of college football
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Raga about college football this fall and what Kamala Harris means for Texas Democrats in November.
Big 12 OKs football season, paving way for UT-Austin, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor to play
This comes after the Pac-12 and the Big 10 said that they would postpone college football until at least the spring. Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey signaled Tuesday that the conference that includes Texas A&M will play this fall.
Jay Hartzell named sole finalist for UT-Austin president
Hartzell, dean of the University of Texas at Austin’s business school, has served as interim president since April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down after five years at the helm.
What losing football to COVID-19 would mean for Texas college towns: “It’s like losing Christmas”
Economists said canceling football would be devastating to local businesses that rely on the huge influxes of cash from home games. Meanwhile, athletics officials weigh whether they can risk the health and welfare of student athletes.
Texas A&M can’t remove Sul Ross statue without the Legislature’s approval, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says
Without approval from the Texas Legislature, Texas A&M University leaders cannot remove the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue on campus, Paxton said Friday. If they decide to relocate it, it must be in a “prominent” location, he added.
Texas universities have started shedding jobs and are bracing for a serious financial hit
It’s impossible to foretell the coronavirus pandemic’s full financial impact on state universities, public and private, but some have already faced millions in lost revenue and unexpected costs. Things will only get worse.
UT-Austin will test 5,000 people a week for coronavirus and cover out-of-pocket costs for students
The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. It will continue to identify individuals or groups on campus strategically to test those at a higher risk of disease spread and perform random testing.

