TribCast: Higher education and the battle for Texas universities
The gang talks about the Texas Legislature’s efforts to rein in universities, and all the changes at the top. Full Story
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![A student walks across the campus at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville on Aug. 20, 2020.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Faculty and students blast Texas House panel for limiting testimony on bill that targets state universities
The House's higher education committee closed registration to testify on Senate Bill 37 less than half an hour after the hearing started. About 20 people said they didn't get to address lawmakers. Full Story
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![University students and faculty gather at the Texas Capitol’s outdoor rotunda on May 15, 2025 to speak against Senate Bill 37, which would allow the government to reshape courses and governance in higher education.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
After college students protested Israel-Hamas war, Texas Senate votes to restrict time, place and manner of future events
Sen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety troopers surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Texas at Austin campus on April 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
After immigration crackdown, international students in Texas self-censor to protect their education
Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities. Full Story
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![International student Tim poses for a portrait at UT-Austin on May 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
UT System announces $100 million investment into civic leadership school
The money will help pay for a permanent home for the school on UT-Austin's campus. Conservative donors and lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, helped create the school in 2023. Full Story
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![From left: Interim President Jim Davis, Gov. Greg Abbott, UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and UT Dean of the School of Civic Leadership Justin Dyer sit during a press conference in the Life Sciences Library at the University of Texas campus on Thursday, May 8, 2025. They spoke on a new $100 million investment the state would make in UT’s new School of Civic Leadership.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
UT-Dallas’ new president will be Prabhas Moghe, regents say
Moghe, Rutgers University’s chief academic officer, is a biochemical and biomedical engineer and a former international student. He is expected to start in his new role later this year. Full Story
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![The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Prabhas V. Moghe as the sole finalist for the next presidency at The University of Texas at Dallas.]()
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Texas Senate panel advances bill that would no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition
The bill would overturn a two-decade-old law allowing some undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition. Full Story
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![Students walk across the campus at Sam Houston State University on Aug. 20, 2020, in Huntsville.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee advances legislation that targets state’s universities
Senate bills that reduce the influence of faculties and restrict protests on college campuses were voted out of committee in a last-minute meeting Monday. Full Story
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![The University of Texas at Austin campus.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
UT System chancellor leaves to lead University of California
Former state Rep. John Zerwas will temporarily replace Chancellor JB Milliken in leading the 256,000-student university system. Full Story
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![Then-UT System Chancellor James Milliken at a regents meeting in Austin on April 2, 2019.]()
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University of Texas at Austin sued over arrests during 2024 pro-Palestinian protests
The two graduates and two current students who are also suing UT trustees and other officials say they were unlawfully targeted because they expressed pro-Palestinian views. Full Story
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![A crowd of protesting students march down Speedway at The University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024. State police officers march behind them.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House approves antisemitism bill in response to pro-Palestinian protests
The bill, which would require schools to use a definition of antisemitism when considering discipline for students, will soon head over to Abbott’s desk. Full Story
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![Protestors chant at Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as they begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in the Gaza conflict on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.]()
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Texas universities say Trump administration restored immigration status of some international students
More than 250 students in Texas had their status revoked in recent weeks. Despite the reversal, federal attorneys say they’re developing policies to resume terminations. Full Story
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![Students walk to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas Tribune -
Court orders immigration officials to restore legal status of three people who came to Texas on student visas
The three former students went to UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas. While they have prevailed in court so far, many other international students’ education futures remain uncertain. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021.]()
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Join us June 17 in Austin for a conversation with retiring Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp
We’ll discuss the future of higher education and how state politics has changed over four decades Full Story
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UT-Rio Grande Valley students caught in nationwide sweep sue Homeland Security over immigration status
The four students were involved in minor criminal cases that have been resolved, which they argue shouldn’t be used to justify ending their higher ed goals in Texas. Full Story
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![Students walk through a bridge connecting two sides of campus at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas law students warn that bill to quash “terrorist activity” in universities could trample free speech rights
The bill would require universities to report any visa-holding students who support terrorism, but its vague language could be dangerous, civil rights groups say. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, lays out the SB2 plan for a education savings account program on Jan. 28, 2025.]()
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Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athletes
Already able to collect from private entities, athletes for the first time would be able to receive direct payments from universities under the proposal. Full Story
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![Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (right) works on TCU Horned Frogs guard Jameer Nelson Jr. in the Big 12 Championship Tournament at T-Mobile center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 14, 2024.]()
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Texas Senate approves bill that could reshape how history and race are taught in state universities
An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds. Full Story
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![Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
More than 250 international students’ immigration statuses revoked across Texas universities
The people affected include a University of Houston professor from Korea who was teaching upper level math under a type of student visa that allows graduates to work in their field of study. Full Story
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![University of North Texas students walk past the eagle statue on Feb. 13, 2024. The Soaring Eagle Statue was comissioned in celebration of UNT's centennial in 1990.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
15 Texas A&M international students might have quietly lost their ability to stay in the U.S.
The Trump administration has said it has revoked the visas of more than 300 international students across the country in the last three weeks. Full Story
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![Students walk to class on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station on Nov. 15, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune