higher education

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Oct. 1, 2011

Aaronson on the shrinking of state government, Aguilar on the controversy over in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants, Galbraith on Rick Perry vs. the EPA, Grissom on a startling development in a 25-year-old murder case, Hamilton on Ken Starr's first year as president of Baylor, Ramsey on what inmates have to do with redistricting, Ramshaw on the state's crisis in insurance coverage, Root on Perry's presidential grind dance and Smith on obstacles to addressing childhood obesity: The best of our best content from Sept. 26-30, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Sharp on A&M and the SEC

By Evan Smith Sept. 29, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp talked about the school's recent decision to bolt the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference. Full Story
TribLive: Sharp on In-State Tuition for Immigrants

By Evan Smith Sept. 29, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp defended the state law allowing college-bound children of undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition. Full Story
TribLive: Sharp Defends the Margins Tax

By Evan Smith Sept. 29, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp defended his efforts to implement the so-called margins tax in 2006. Full Story
Victor Boschini: The TT Interview

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 28, 2011

TCU's 10th chancellor on the concerns of independent institutions in Texas, why it's worth paying a high price for private higher education, and — to a very limited extent — the turmoil convulsing the college athletic conferences. Full Story
Ken Starr, an Improbable Unifier, Presides Over Baylor University

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 25, 2011

Athletic conference instability has easily been the most significant struggle of Ken Starr's first year as Baylor University president. Otherwise, he has thrived beyond expectations — something that even his critics happily concede. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Liveblog: Public and Higher Education at The Texas Tribune Festival

By Reeve Hamilton, Morgan Smith and David Muto Sept. 24, 2011

We'll be liveblogging throughout the weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's public and higher education track — which includes panels on the role research should play at state universities and how to pay for public education. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 24, 2011

Ramshaw, Root and Philpott track the governor on the campaign trail, Tan and Dehn on high school football concussions, and Murphy and yours truly on the partisan climates of each district under redistricting maps: The best of our content from Sept. 19 to 23. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: A&M Police Release Report on Kimbrough Firing

By Reeve Hamilton and Emily Ramshaw Sept. 22, 2011

The Texas A&M University Police Department has released its report regarding the termination of A&M System Deputy Chancellor Jay Kimbrough, who displayed a knife while he was being fired. Full Story
Will Troubles Cut Deep for Perry Troubleshooter?

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 22, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry's go-to problem solver, Jay Kimbrough, could have chosen a more inconvenient time to take out his pocket knife in response to his firing from the Texas A&M University System, whose flagship university is Perry's alma mater. But maybe not much more. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Katharine Hayhoe: The TT Interview

By Kate Galbraith Sept. 22, 2011

The Texas Tech climate scientist and author of A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions on why why working in Texas, a state full of both prominent climate skeptics and extreme weather, is an "opportunity." Full Story
Higher Ed Oversight Committee Revisits "Solutions"

By Danny Guerra Sept. 21, 2011

At today's hearing of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency, experts weighed in on how — and how not — to make universities in Texas more accountable and transparent. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Born Out of Controversy, New Higher Ed Committee Gets to Work

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 21, 2011

Today brings the latest step in the state's ongoing higher education debate: the inaugural hearing of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Watson Outlines Plan for Medical School in Austin

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 20, 2011

In a much-anticipated speech this afternoon to the Real Estate Council of Austin, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, outlined his plan for the development of a medical school in Austin. "This is the moment," he said. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
UT Reports Record Hispanic Enrollment

By Nathan Bernier, KUT News Sept. 20, 2011

The University of Texas at Austin reports that its Hispanic enrollment has hit a record high this year. Nathan Bernier of KUT News has a closer look at the figures and what they mean for the state’s efforts to close achievement gaps. Full Story

Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo
UT Regents Give Powers Authority to Tackle Conference Realignment

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 19, 2011

The University of Texas System regents today gave UT President Bill Powers the authority to take any necessary actions regarding conference realignment, another step in the university's possible departure from the Big 12. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Sept. 17, 2011

Aaronson on the rise in the state's unemployment rate, Aguilar on the push to mandate use of an electronic employment verification program, Galbraith on fears about the drought's impact on lake levels, Grissom on the latest in the Duane Buck case, Hamilton on the possible end of physics (academically speaking), Murphy updates our public employee pay app, Ramsey on David "Mitt" Dewhurst, Ramshaw on Rick Perry's campaign swing through Virginia and Iowa, Root on the deletion of gubernatorial emails and M. Smith on the teaching of safe sex where you'd least expect it: The best of our best content from Sept. 12-16, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Mike Leach: The TT Interview

By Susannah Jacob Sept. 16, 2011

The former Texas Tech football coach on his pending lawsuit against the university, how the state's doing at educating student athletes and what happens if the Big 12 falls apart. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
For A&M, It Could Be "Lights! Camera! Contagion!"

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 16, 2011

Texas A&M University System scientists want cinephiles to know that the scenario in the movie Contagion is a very real one — and that if it did come to pass, they'd have a major role to play in solving the problem. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Budget Woes, Calls for Efficiency Imperil Physics Programs

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 16, 2011

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board wants to eliminate degree programs with low enrollment — like physics. Critics, including many professors, say that could do lasting harm to the state. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato