Past Contributions

• Lucrative Los Alamos National Lab contract awarded to team that includes Texas A&M

  By Shannon Najmabadi June 8, 2018

  A&M is partnering with the University of California System and a research and development organization on the effort. Their extendable five-year contract with the U.S. Energy Department is worth an estimated $2.5 billion annually. Full Story 

• New University of Texas System rule makes it easier for campus heads to fly business or first class

  By Shannon Najmabadi June 1, 2018

  The rule comes less than three months after an audit dinged UT-Austin President Greg Fenves for using premium airfare for business travel. Full Story 

• "Somebody had to push": One couple's fight to change how Texas defines a pickle

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 31, 2018

  Anita and Jim McHaney just wanted to sell their pickled beets at a farmers market. It turns out that's not an easy task. Full Story 

• Texas A&M promised Jimbo Fisher a 10 year, $75 million contract five months ago. Here's why it hasn't been signed yet.

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 31, 2018

  A&M officials say changes to the federal tax code and Fisher’s focus on recruiting players have slowed the signing process — but that their timeline is not unusual. Full Story 

• Chancellor Bill McRaven on higher education, his time at the UT System and what’s next

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 29, 2018

  Bill McRaven's last day as chancellor of the University of Texas System is May 31. He spoke to The Texas Tribune in his last weeks about his time at the system, his aspirations for the future and higher education broadly. Full Story 

• After three decades as UTEP's president, Diana Natalicio sets plan for retirement

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 22, 2018

  Natalicio, 78, has been an El Paso fixture for decades, and she has been widely recognized for her efforts to make higher education more accessible to low-income students. Full Story 

• After ex-employee is accused of fraud, UT hires a former federal prosecutor to investigate internal controls

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Jay Root May 21, 2018

  A former director at the university's law school is accused of fraud in a case potentially involving millions of dollars. Full Story 

• Former UT-Austin President Larry Faulkner named interim chancellor of UT System

  By Shannon Najmabadi Updated: May 18, 2018

  Faulkner, who was president of UT-Austin from 1998 to 2006, will replace outgoing Chancellor Bill McRaven on June 1. Full Story 

• After McRaven departs, an interim chancellor for the UT System seems likely

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 11, 2018

  Because of a state-mandated waiting period, the system’s governing board must leave 21-days between naming finalists for the chancellor job and appointing their pick. The window to do that before McRaven departs seemed to have closed Friday. Full Story 

• Former University of Texas law school official arrested as part of ongoing fraud investigation

  By Jay Root and Shannon Najmabadi Updated: May 4, 2018

  Jason Shoumaker, the law school's former facilities director, was arrested Thursday. The alleged fraud could involve "several million dollars of questionable expenses," a source familiar with the probe said. Full Story