INSIDER
Texas A&M regents overrule faculty, cut 52 ālow-producingā programs including LGBTQ+ studies minor
Read full article: Texas A&M regents overrule faculty, cut 52 ālow-producingā programs including LGBTQ+ studies minorAfter conservative criticism over the LGBTQ+ minor, university officials started looking at all its programs. Faculty say they were excluded from the process.
Queer students look for alternatives after Texas A&M ends transgender health care services
Read full article: Queer students look for alternatives after Texas A&M ends transgender health care servicesThe students saw the move as part of a political environment that has become increasingly hostile against LGBTQ+ people in Texas.
āAlways go out on topā: Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp will retire June 2025
Read full article: āAlways go out on topā: Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp will retire June 2025Sharp leaves after having transformed the institution, embedding it into state government, expanding its reach and boosting its academic and athletic reputation.
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.
Amid fears of arsenic in private water wells, Texas A&M is offering low-cost tests in Ector and Midland counties
Read full article: Amid fears of arsenic in private water wells, Texas A&M is offering low-cost tests in Ector and Midland countiesOfficials are worried that thereās arsenic in some of the estimated 13,500 private water wells in Ector and Midland counties.
Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safe
Read full article: Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safeAs firefighters work to put out the largest wildfire in Texas history, hereās a guide to fire weather watches, safety tips and how to find organizations collecting donations to directly help local residents, including farmers and ranchers.
Texas A&M students and faculty in Qatar slam decision to close Middle East campus
Read full article: Texas A&M students and faculty in Qatar slam decision to close Middle East campusProfessors and students on the Doha campus are devastated by the Board of Regentsā sudden decision to shutter the school by 2028.
Texas A&M University to close Qatar campus
Read full article: Texas A&M University to close Qatar campusThe Texas A&M Board cited heightened instability in the Middle East as the reason to end its contract with the Qatar Foundation to run the branch campus. The foundation accuses the board of falling prey to a ādisinformation campaign.ā
Mark Welsh III officially named president of Texas A&M University
Read full article: Mark Welsh III officially named president of Texas A&M UniversityWelsh served as interim president of the flagship university for a little over four months after the prior president resigned in the midst of a hiring scandal that drew national attention.
Texas A&M Board of Regents names Mark Welsh III sole finalist for president
Read full article: Texas A&M Board of Regents names Mark Welsh III sole finalist for presidentThe Texas A&M University System Board of Regents named the former dean and four-star general as the sole finalist for president Friday. Many believe Welsh is the right person to move the university forward after a pair of controversies bruised the schoolās morale.
Texas A&M Interim President Mark Welsh will get nod to keep permanent position
Read full article: Texas A&M Interim President Mark Welsh will get nod to keep permanent positionA&M System Chancellor John Sharp will recommend Welsh, a retired Air Force general, as the sole finalist for the job at a Board of Regents meeting later this week. Welsh has held the position in the interim since July.
Interim Texas A&M University president sets new tone for reforms planned under his predecessor
Read full article: Interim Texas A&M University president sets new tone for reforms planned under his predecessorMark Welsh said that Texas A&M will stay the course on many controversial changes made by former President Kathy Banks. Professors welcomed Welshās commitment to faculty input moving forward.
Federal judge throws out hiring discrimination lawsuit against Texas A&M
Read full article: Federal judge throws out hiring discrimination lawsuit against Texas A&MThe judge tossed the suit after the university argued a new state law that will go into effect in January, Senate Bill 17, already prohibits preferential treatment in hiring at public universities.
Texas A&M Systemās guidance on the stateās DEI ban shows compliance might be a hard needle to thread
Read full article: Texas A&M Systemās guidance on the stateās 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 āsupport diversity in a general wayā but donāt āpromote preferential treatment of any particular group.ā
Ken Paxton isnāt the only Texan fighting impeachment this week. Meet Texas A&Mās student body president.
Read full article: Ken Paxton isnāt the only Texan fighting impeachment this week. Meet Texas A&Mās student body president.Impeachment at all levels of government are becoming more common, a political scientist said. It could make the political tool pointless.
Texas A&M leadersā text messages show desire to counteract perceived liberal agenda in higher education
Read full article: Texas A&M leadersā text messages show desire to counteract perceived liberal agenda in higher educationSome members of the university systemās board of regents said they wanted to promote conservative causes at the flagship campus and resisted efforts to hire journalism professor Kathleen O. McElroy, who they believed would work counter to those goals.
Top Texas A&M officials were involved in botched recruiting of journalism professor, who will receive $1 million settlement
Read full article: Top Texas A&M officials were involved in botched recruiting of journalism professor, who will receive $1 million settlementA new internal report, conducted by the university systemās office of general counsel, also looked into Texas A&Mās decision to temporarily suspend a respected opioids expert after she was accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a lecture.
Texas A&M interim president pledges more transparency after accusations of political interference
Read full article: Texas A&M interim president pledges more transparency after accusations of political interferenceIn his first comments as interim president, Mark A. Welsh IIII cast recent concerns over political interference in Texas A&Mās employment decisions as ācommunication breakdowns.ā
Suspended Texas A&M professor denies saying Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes overdose victims ādeserve to dieā
Read full article: Suspended Texas A&M professor denies saying Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes overdose victims ādeserve to dieāTexas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham alleged Wednesday that opioids expert Joy Alonzo told students in a guest lecture that āYour Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die.ā Alonzo denied the claims.
Texas A&M regents could offer a settlement to the journalism professor at center of hiring controversy
Read full article: Texas A&M regents could offer a settlement to the journalism professor at center of hiring controversyThe systemās board also plans to formally appoint an interim president after Katherine Banks resigned last week following news that the school changed its job offer to Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor, after outcries from conservative groups.
Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture
Read full article: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lectureThe professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters.
A&M faculty leaders decry āappearance of outside influenceā in botched hiring of journalism professor
Read full article: A&M faculty leaders decry āappearance of outside influenceā in botched hiring of journalism professorThe university announced the hiring of Kathleen McElroy, a Black former New York Times journalist, but later backtracked on its offer amid conservative pushback.
Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after āDEI hysteriaā
Read full article: Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after āDEI hysteriaāThe university celebrated its decision to hire Kathleen McElroy to revive its journalism program. She says sheās staying at UT after she felt judged because of her race and gender.
Texas A&M University System starts āethics and compliance reviewā of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts ahead of ban
Read full article: Texas A&M University System starts āethics and compliance reviewā of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts ahead of banAccording to a June 13 letter, all Texas A&M universities must provide details on a wide range of programs, trainings and presentations that touch on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus, including faculty organizations and mission statements.
For higher education in Texas, this yearās session was a mixed bag of interference and investment
Read full article: For higher education in Texas, this yearās session was a mixed bag of interference and investmentTexas lawmakers made huge investments in community colleges and created new endowments for public universities. They also banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and gave themselves more control over university faculty tenure.
House signals readiness to fight Senate over bills to ban tenure, diversity efforts at Texas universities
Read full article: House signals readiness to fight Senate over bills to ban tenure, diversity efforts at Texas universitiesRep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, pledged to defend his legislation dialing back Senate bills that would eliminate tenure and ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices. But faculty and students say even the House versions will hurt higher education.
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 Houseās 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.
For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careers
Read full article: For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careersWhile the proposed tenure ban will likely face steep opposition in the Texas House, faculty say lawmakersā recent attacks on higher education have raised concerns about whether Texas is the best state to build their career.
West Texas A&M faculty condemn university President Walter Wendler after drag show cancellation
Read full article: West Texas A&M faculty condemn university President Walter Wendler after drag show cancellationThe vote of no-confidence came over Wendlerās handling of the drag show. Faculty said heās exhibited poor leadership with other issues.
Research leaders at Texas A&M University raise āserious concernsā with President Kathy Banksā leadership
Read full article: Research leaders at Texas A&M University raise āserious concernsā with President Kathy Banksā leadershipA poll conducted by the Council of Principal Investigators, an elected group of faculty who help oversee research activity at the school, found respondents distrust the presidentās decision making since she took the helm nearly two years ago.
West Texas A&M University students file free speech lawsuit after president cancels campus drag show
Read full article: West Texas A&M University students file free speech lawsuit after president cancels campus drag showThe lawsuit comes after protests each day this week, calling for university president Walter Wendler to reinstate the drag show and step down.
West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades women
Read full article: West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades womenStudents and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendlerās portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights.
Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applications
Read full article: Texas A&M University System bans diversity statements from job applicationsThe Texas A&M, Texas State and University of Houston systems are the latest to make changes after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in their hiring practices.
University of Texas System pauses new policies to promote diversity, equity and inclusion
Read full article: University of Texas System pauses new policies to promote diversity, equity and inclusionThe system leadersā decision comes weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in their hiring practices. 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.
Tomikia LeGrande chosen as next Prairie View A&M University president
Read full article: Tomikia LeGrande chosen as next Prairie View A&M University presidentThe announcement kicks off a required 21-day period before she can be formally appointed. If approved, LeGrande will take over at the end of the current academic year.
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.
How local universities compare in cost in UT and A&M systems
Read full article: How local universities compare in cost in UT and A&M systemsThe University of Texas at San Antonio is one of the least-expensive schools in the University of Texas System, while Texas A&M University-San Antonio is one of the most expensive in its system.
In lawsuit, UT-Austin professor accuses Texas A&M faculty program of discriminating against white and Asian men
Read full article: In lawsuit, UT-Austin professor accuses Texas A&M faculty program of discriminating against white and Asian menUT-Austin professor Richard Lowery is represented by America First Legal ā a group created by Stephen Miller, a policy adviser for former President Donald Trump, and Jonathan Mitchell, a former solicitor general for Texas and the legal architect of the stateās six-week abortion ban.
Outgoing Prairie View A&M President Ruth Simmons will remain at university, create new leadership diversity program
Read full article: Outgoing Prairie View A&M President Ruth Simmons will remain at university, create new leadership diversity programSimmons will teach, help maintain new fundraising partnerships and launch a college and university leadership training academy.
Texas A&M to grant free tuition, room and board to its Ukrainian students
Read full article: Texas A&M to grant free tuition, room and board to its Ukrainian studentsSo far, about 14 students could receive the aid, but the number might increase as more candidates are identified, the university system said.
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.
Texas A&M students protest after president ends print publication of 129-year-old Battalion newspaper
Read full article: Texas A&M students protest after president ends print publication of 129-year-old Battalion newspaperThe student newspaper will continue as an online-only news organization after the spring semester. But the universityās unilateral decision to end the print edition without student input has students and faculty concerned about its editorial independence.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks Gov. Greg Abbott to add higher ed construction projects to third special session
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks Gov. Greg Abbott to add higher ed construction projects to third special sessionThe Texas Legislature has not approved bonds to fund capital projects on public university campuses since 2015, and many school leaders say they need help to build new buildings and maintain current structures.
Watch Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp talk about the pandemic, college football and more at The Texas Tribune Festival
Read full article: Watch Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp talk about the pandemic, college football and more at The Texas Tribune FestivalSharp talked about how higher ed survives the pandemic, the obstacles to running a world-class public university and the future of college football.
UT, Texas A&M urge students to get tested for COVID-19 before Thanksgiving
Read full article: UT, Texas A&M urge students to get tested for COVID-19 before ThanksgivingStudents who attend the University of Texas and Texas A&M University are being urged to take a COVID-19 test before they leave campus and head home for the Thanksgiving holiday break. Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said getting tested can help families and communities feel safe and can avoid any unnecessary exposure to the coronavirus. In addition to getting tested, UT officials are also asking students to self-quarantine seven days prior to traveling and seven days once they have reached their destination, according to a report on KXAN.com. UT officials are also strongly recommending campus community members get tested through the universityās Proactive Community Testing program or through other COVID-19 testing resources in Austin. Both Texas A&M and UT will end in-person classes for the fall semester ahead of the Thanksgiving break with only final exams scheduled in December.
Texas A&M System will provide free COVID-19 tests, but its a mixed bag for other schools
Read full article: Texas A&M System will provide free COVID-19 tests, but its a mixed bag for other schoolsAllie Goulding/The Texas TribuneThe Texas A&M University System is expected to begin offering free on-campus COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff by the end of the week. The university system will send out about 15,000 mouth swab test kits each month to be distributed across its 11 university campuses. System officials have $16 million set aside for the COVID-19 testing program, said Laylan Copelin, system spokesperson. The University of Texas at Austin, one of Texas most populous schools, will charge for a COVID-19 test. Disclosure: Texas A&M System, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas-Arlington, University of Texas at El Paso, and Texas Tech University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporcate sponsors.
Texas A&M System to offer free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staff
Read full article: Texas A&M System to offer free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staffCOLLEGE STATION, Texas The Texas A&M University System has announced that it will offer free COVID-19 testing to its students, faculty and staff. Approximately 15,000 test kits will be sent to system campuses each month, which includes Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Ensuring the health and safety of our students is our top priority, said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Testing could start later this week, and is the result of a partnership with Curative Inc., a national testing company based in California. The school says the tests will be free but those who have insurance are encouraged to use their primary care physician so that their test can be paid for by insurance.