Senate committee advances proposal to gut the Top 10 Percent Rule
A proposal to substantially weaken the Top 10 Percent Rule took an important step forward Wednesday. 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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![Students on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
In aftermath of rape scandal, Baylor hires its first female president
Baylor University has named Linda Livingstone as its next president. Full Story
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![Linda A. Livingstone, the president of Baylor University.]()
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Hazlewood plan would leave benefits for current veterans untouched
Colleges are asking the state to pare back the state program that offers free tuition to veterans or their children. But key lawmakers in the Texas House don't want to mess with what's being offered to current veterans and their families. 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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Texas lawmakers might let community colleges offer bachelor's degrees
More than a dozen bills have been filed this session that would let more two-year colleges offer four-year degrees. Full Story
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Texas senators mull eliminating Top 10 Percent Rule
The Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday reviewed the state's automatic college admissions rule, which is popular among minorities but loathed among many suburban students and parents. Full Story
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Senate approves two-year tuition freeze, 1% cap on increases after that
The Texas Senate voted 29-2 to freeze tuition for two years, and then cap tuition increases at 1 percent plus inflation after that. The idea will now go to the House, where leaders are skeptical of tuition freezes. Full Story
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Frustrated Texas senators call for transparency from Baylor after rape scandal
Baylor University leaders faced strong criticism Wednesday from Texas senators who are pondering whether to require the private university to comply with state open records laws. Full Story
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![Baylor University in Waco, TX]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Former UT System administrator Woodley to lead UT-Permian Basin
Sandra Woodley, The UT System's former vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, will take over as president of the growing University of Texas of the Permian Basin at the end of August. Full Story
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Will Texas universities face perfect storm of cuts?
The top three sources of revenue for Texas public universities are all being targeted for reductions or freezes by federal or state government leaders. Full Story
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![University of Houston President Renu Khator (center) and Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan were among those who testified during a May 10, 2016, House Higher Education Committee hearing.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
How a college student election got the attention of the energy secretary
Thanks to some glow sticks and a strict interpretation of election rules, the student body president election at Texas A&M University has gained national attention — and the suspicion of former Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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![Energy Secretary and former Gov. Rick Perry flanked by Texas A&M student president candidates Robert McIntosh (l.) and Bobby Brooks.]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages/Perry: Bob Daemmrich
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