Senate Approves $3 Billion in Bonds for Campus Construction
Senators on Tuesday approved House Bill 100, which would authorize $3 billion in debt to pay for construction projects on university campuses. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
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![University of Texas at Austin students pass by the Main Building on their way to and from classes.]()
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Promise of Free Tuition Could Vanish for Some Veterans' Children
As lawmakers are working to rein in the cost of the Hazlewood program, some veterans are wondering how they'll pay for kids' tuition that they once thought would be free. Full Story
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![A military honor guard practices for Wednesday's memorial ceremony at Fort Hood ceremony on April 9, 2014.]()
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Hall Denied Access to Student Records — Again
Even after an attorney general's ruling in his favor, Regent Wallace Hall was told that he can't see confidential student information related to admissions. Full Story
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![Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr. of the University of Texas System at the regular meeting of the Board on May 15, 2014]()
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Panel Defends Powers' Role in Admissions but Recommends Changes
A panel of former chancellors and university presidents defended the University of Texas at Austin president’s role in admissions Thursday, but warned that students’ connections shouldn’t be a factor in whether they are admitted. Full Story
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![UT President Bill Powers speaks during a UT Board of Regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
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UT Finalizes Contract With Basketball Coach Shaka Smart
In his first year, Shaka Smart will earn $2.8 million. That salary will increase by $100,000 each year until the terms of his contract run out in 2022. The final year, in which he'd be paid $3.4 million, is not guaranteed. Full Story
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![New UT basketball coach Shaka Smart.]()
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Paxton: UT Can't Block Regents' Requests for Information
Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday boosted University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall's efforts to dig into admissions at UT-Austin by siding with Hall in a dispute over whether regents can have access to confidential student records. Full Story
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![UT Regent Wallace Hall speaks at a Texas Tribune event on Sept. 4, 2014.]()
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Legislators Likely to End Top 10 Percent Scholarships
A state-funded college scholarship program designed to keep top students in Texas may soon be axed due to lawmaker concerns that it doesn't have enough money to accomplish its goal. Full Story
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Senate OKs Tougher Rules for Hazlewood Tuition Program
In an effort to contain growing costs, the Texas Senate voted Tuesday to make it harder for veterans to pass free in-state tuition benefits onto their children. Universities have been pleading for help with those spiraling costs. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, speaks to reporters on May 5, 2015 after the passage of his bill seeking to tighten eligibility requirements for free tuition under the Hazlewood program.]()
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UT Regents Ask AG to Ignore Hall's Request for Information
In a letter, the UT System says Regent Wallace Hall shouldn't have "unfettered access" to confidential student information. The letter also argues that Hall didn't have the right to seek the attorney general's help in the request. Full Story
![Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr. of the University of Texas System at the regular meeting of the Board on May 15, 2014]()
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Without Stadium Home, Bats Invade Texas A&M University Buildings
A&M's football stadium, Kyle Field, has long doubled as one of the region's biggest bat habitats — or at least it did until recent renovations began. Now, the bats have spread across the rest of campus, showing up in swimming pools, offices and other campus buildings. Full Story
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![Texas A&M University in College Station.]()
Credit: Stuart Seeger