Here's what's at stake for Texas universities in Legislature's budget fight
Check out how each public university in Texas would fare under the House and Senate budgets. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
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Proposed higher education funding overhaul could come with collateral damage
Initiatives to boost small businesses and help poor students get through college could lose their funding amid the Senate's attempt to fix how the state pays for higher education. Full Story
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![Freshman Samantha Salas (center) hangs out with friends before going to class on the first day of school on Aug. 25, 2014, at South Texas College's Pecan Campus in McAllen.]()
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Veterans tuition program would see only minor changes under bill approved by panel
The House Higher Education Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would largely preserve the benefit of free college tuition to veterans or one of their kids. Full Story
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![House Higher Education Committee chair State Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, listens to testimony on several bills intended to curb sexual assaults on Texas college campuses during a hearing March 22, 2017.]()
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UT-Austin police on stabbing spree: "This was not a conspiracy"
Police said the student who stabbed four people on the University of Texas at Austin campus didn't appear to be targeting anyone in particular. Full Story
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UT police search for motive in student's stabbing spree
Police said they don't know why a junior biology major stabbed four other students on the University of Texas at Austin campus, killing one. Full Story
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Attempts to overhaul Hazlewood veterans tuition program are losing steam
A change of heart by a powerful lawmaker and vocal opposition by veterans groups have imperiled hopes for a major overhaul of Texas' free tuition program for veterans and their kids. Full Story
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![Texas A&M Kingsville Army ROTC cadets (l-r) Andrew Wilson, Nathaniel Estes, Octavio Calleja-Ponce, Daniel Obrego and Cristian Barriosalas raise the flag in front of Texas A&M Kingsville's College Hall on October 26, 2016.]()
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A&M Chancellor Sharp asks regents to delay extending his contract
Citing "goofy rumors," Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp has asked that a vote on his contract extension be delayed. Full Story
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Ballpark Figures: Dive into the finances of Texas college athletics
We’ve updated our “Ballpark Figures” app with 2015-16 data on revenues and expenses for the eight public Texas universities that play in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Full Story
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A&M System Chancellor John Sharp poised to receive a contract extension
Texas A&M University System regents are expected to consider a contract extension for Chancellor John Sharp next week. A majority of the board says it supports the idea. Full Story
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Lawmakers want to rein in Texas universities — four years after gutting their oversight board
Some Texas lawmakers have complained that universities seem to be taking on ambitious projects that don't serve the needs of the state. Lawmakers gave them that power back in 2013. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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