While some universities nationwide and in Texas are still refusing to disclose coronavirus cases, UT-Austin set up a digital dashboard allowing community members to see updated student, faculty and staff cases. But the transparency has already proven to be a double-edged sword.
Higher Education
Coverage of universities, colleges, student issues, and education policy shaping Texas’ campuses, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
UT-Austin is considering only filling its stadium to 25% capacity when football resumes Sept. 5
University officials had previously said they were considering a limit of 50% to comply with social distancing guidelines.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Baylor students must test negative for coronavirus before returning to campus this fall, officials say
The university is mailing testing kits to its 18,000 students and requiring a negative test result before allowing them back on campus.
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Higher Education
Trump administration says it will reject new DACA applications while weighing future of the program
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf said that in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, officials are considering whether to fully rescind the program.
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Higher Education
UT-Austin faces a third lawsuit claiming that white students were unfairly denied admission under affirmative action
Previous attempts to overturn UT-Austin’s admissions policies have proven unsuccessful, including a 2018 lawsuit by the same group that was dropped earlier this month and a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court case that sided with the university.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Coronavirus spreads to the Texas state budget
Now that the first official estimate of the coronavirus’ effect on the Texas economy is out, the hard work starts. Legislators have to figure out which parts of the state budget to cut and which parts to keep.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
UT-Austin prepared a list of scenarios that could lead to a shutdown this fall. One trigger: a student dying of COVID-19.
Other reasons UT-Austin would close include “significant actions” by the governor or other public officials, sharply diminished hospital capacity, testing shortages on campus and unmanageable, widespread clusters of cases.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas A&M System will provide free COVID-19 tests, but it’s a mixed bag for other schools
Up to 15,000 test kits will be available per month across its 11 universities. The system has set aside $16 million to pay for the testing program.
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Coronavirus in Texas
In reversal, federal government will allow international students to stay in the U.S. while taking only online classes
The repeal follows outspoken criticism from universities, legal experts and higher education advocates, who deemed the rules unfairly punitive for foreign students.
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Higher Education
UT-Austin says it will keep “The Eyes of Texas” as school song, but will rename buildings as Black students call for change
Last month, student athletes at the University of Texas at Austin said they would forgo recruiting and donor events if campus and athletic leaders failed to implement their demands, which were aimed at supporting students of color.
