INSIDER
UT System will expand free tuition and fees to all undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or less
Read full article: UT System will expand free tuition and fees to all undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or lessThe Board of Regents is lifting the income threshold to expand eligibility across all nine of its UT System campuses.
UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statements
Read full article: UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statementsThe new policy says universities should remain neutral on “issues of the day” while allowing students, faculty and staff to express their ideas.
17 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at UT-Dallas as police break up encampment
Read full article: 17 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at UT-Dallas as police break up encampmentUT-Dallas is the second campus in Texas where Department of Public Safety troopers have made arrests while breaking up protests.
Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdown
Read full article: Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdownAs administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.
As doors close and funding fades, students worry UT-Austin is taking Texas’ new DEI ban too far
Read full article: As doors close and funding fades, students worry UT-Austin is taking Texas’ new DEI ban too farThe new state law prohibits public universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Students say schools are overcorrecting.
Does UT Tyler Health Science Center’s deal with private equity shield doctors from malpractice suits?
Read full article: Does UT Tyler Health Science Center’s deal with private equity shield doctors from malpractice suits?A lawsuit claims UT Tyler Health Science Center is trying to pull the veil of governmental immunity over doctors who do all of their work for a for-profit, private equity-backed health care system.
Texas A&M System’s guidance on the state’s DEI ban shows compliance might be a hard needle to thread
Read full article: Texas A&M System’s guidance on the state’s DEI ban shows compliance might be a hard needle to threadThe guidance asks universities in the system to avoid using the acronym DEI on their websites and walk a fine line between organizing events that “support diversity in a general way” but don’t “promote preferential treatment of any particular group.”
University of Texas at Austin and MD Anderson Cancer Center will partner to create a new $2.5 billion hospital
Read full article: University of Texas at Austin and MD Anderson Cancer Center will partner to create a new $2.5 billion hospitalThe new medical facility, to be located in downtown Austin, will help expand the University of Texas System’s reputed cancer center outside of the Houston area.
How an internship program hopes to end ‘brain drain’ in Texas’ Permian Basin and other rural regions
Read full article: How an internship program hopes to end ‘brain drain’ in Texas’ Permian Basin and other rural regionsThis is the third year businesses in the Permian Basin — known for high school football and oil fields — have participated in the University of Texas Austin program. Students this year say they are seeing their hometowns in a new way.
Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after “DEI hysteria”
Read full article: Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after “DEI hysteria”The university celebrated its decision to hire Kathleen McElroy to revive its journalism program. She says she’s staying at UT after she felt judged because of her race and gender.
Stephen F. Austin State University students grow anxious about falling behind as school reels from cyberattack last week
Read full article: Stephen F. Austin State University students grow anxious about falling behind as school reels from cyberattack last weekThe East Texas university says the FBI is investigating the cyberattack, which drew the school to a halt about 10 days ago, shutting down the internet and disrupting summer classes.
Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universities
Read full article: Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universitiesA new version of Senate Bill 18 scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday would keep faculty tenure and direct university governing boards to establish policies to grant and revoke tenure.
Texas House may revise anti-diversity legislation to allow some programs to maintain grants, federal funding
Read full article: Texas House may revise anti-diversity legislation to allow some programs to maintain grants, federal fundingA new version of Senate Bill 17 expected to be considered by the House’s Higher Education Committee on Monday would still ban DEI offices and prohibit required diversity training, but it would open the door for university boards of regents to approve such programs in certain circumstances.
University of Texas regents approve creation of new college to house Civitas Institute at UT-Austin
Read full article: University of Texas regents approve creation of new college to house Civitas Institute at UT-AustinThe Civitas Institute was conceived with the help of conservative donors and state lawmakers to lead research and education based on free-market principles.
Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own college
Read full article: Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own collegeSen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has filed legislation that would establish The Civitas School of Civic and International Leadership as a formal college at the University of Texas at Austin.
Workforce shortages in the state psychiatric hospital system prolong jail time for mentally ill Texans
Read full article: Workforce shortages in the state psychiatric hospital system prolong jail time for mentally ill TexansThe state has added more beds for jail inmates who need psychiatric treatment to be considered competent to face trial. But at least a third remain empty because the state can’t hire enough people to staff them.
University of Texas System pauses new diversity, equity and inclusion policies
Read full article: University of Texas System pauses new diversity, equity and inclusion policiesThe system leaders’ decision comes weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in hiring. Texas A&M University also recently changed its hiring practices.
Texas higher ed leaders optimistic about funding, faculty uneasy about culture wars as new session starts
Read full article: Texas higher ed leaders optimistic about funding, faculty uneasy about culture wars as new session startsCommunity colleges want a funding overhaul this legislative session, and four-year universities are hoping for a boost in research funds. Meanwhile, faculty are bracing for a potential threat to tenure and limits to conversations about race.
Stephen F. Austin State University moves to join the University of Texas System
Read full article: Stephen F. Austin State University moves to join the University of Texas SystemRegents said they chose the UT System because of its access to the Permanent University Fund, which consists of oil and gas assets.
How four Texas university systems are pitching themselves as the best new home for Stephen F. Austin State University
Read full article: How four Texas university systems are pitching themselves as the best new home for Stephen F. Austin State UniversityThe SFA Board of Regents is expected to decide whether to join a system before the end of the semester. The Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech and University of Texas systems have all expressed interest in adding the Nacogdoches school to their folds.
Two-thirds of board members overseeing Texas public universities are Abbott donors. They’re not shy about wielding influence.
Read full article: Two-thirds of board members overseeing Texas public universities are Abbott donors. They’re not shy about wielding influence.High-money donors are concentrated on larger boards, including those of the University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System.
Watch Michael V. Drake and J.B. Milliken speak at the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival
Read full article: Watch Michael V. Drake and J.B. Milliken speak at the 2022 Texas Tribune FestivalThe leaders of California’s and Texas’ iconic public university systems on the challenges and opportunities for higher ed in the nation’s most populous states.
As monkeypox spreads, health experts urge Texas universities to prepare for outbreaks
Read full article: As monkeypox spreads, health experts urge Texas universities to prepare for outbreaksWhile the risk of exposure to monkeypox remains low, health experts say college students living in close proximity to each other could spur outbreaks. They encourage schools to share their plans and relevant information about the virus.
University of Texas selects new director — and new name — for its conservative institute
Read full article: University of Texas selects new director — and new name — for its conservative instituteThe University of Texas at Austin selected Justin Dyer to run The Civitas Institute, formerly referred to as the Liberty Institute. The center raised concerns among faculty after The Texas Tribune reported UT-Austin worked with conservative donors and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to bring the institute to the flagship UT campus.
Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp orders school leaders to sever research ties with Russian entities
Read full article: Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp orders school leaders to sever research ties with Russian entitiesThe chancellor instructed universities and agencies in the system to dissolve all agreements, especially those related to academics, research and intellectual property.
UT System creates $300 million endowment to help seven universities expand free tuition programs
Read full article: UT System creates $300 million endowment to help seven universities expand free tuition programsThe endowment will increase the number of students who qualify for free tuition and fees at UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UT-El Paso, UT-Permian Basin, UT-Rio Grande Valley, UT-San Antonio and UT-Tyler.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes ending university tenure to combat critical race theory teachings
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes ending university tenure to combat critical race theory teachingsPatrick’s declarations come days after the UT-Austin Faculty Council approved a measure reaffirming instructors’ right to teach about racial justice and critical race theory in the classroom.
UT System Board names Jennifer Evans-Cowley as sole finalist for president of UT-Arlington
Read full article: UT System Board names Jennifer Evans-Cowley as sole finalist for president of UT-ArlingtonThe board must wait a state-mandated 21 days before the finalist is officially named the 10th president of UT-Arlington. If approved, Evans-Cowley will be the first female president at the university.
The Playlist: Hog Heaven
Read full article: The Playlist: Hog HeavenAfter a marathon 17-plus hour debate that started just after noon last Tuesday, the House finally gave its preliminary nod to its version of the state budget, so we start this week's playlist of the week’s news with “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays.