https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enTue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/texas-tech-university-system-faculty-gender-identity/Faculty have spent weeks seeking clarity on new restrictions, which have often been issued by word of mouth. A written Q&A was rescinded.By Jessica PriestTue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/texas-tech-university-system-faculty-gender-identity/A new Texas Tech University System policy requires faculty to comply with a federal executive order, a gubernatorial letter and a new state law recognizing only two sexes. Professors say the policy has sparked confusion and left them feeling like they would be exposed if their teachings drew political fire.The Texas Tech University Administration Building tower sits on campus in Lubbock, Texas, Sept. 30, 2025.Jacob Lujan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/university-texas-austin-trump-administration-compact/The funding deal would reportedly ask the university to adopt a stricter definition of gender and a tuition freeze, among other conditions.By Jessica Priest and Nicholas GutteridgeThu, 02 Oct 2025 10:33:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/02/university-texas-austin-trump-administration-compact/The Trump administration has offered the University of Texas at Austin and eight other schools across the country access to preferential federal funding in exchange to agreeing to several conditions, which reportedly include a stricter definition of gender and a cap on international student enrollment.Students walk down Speedway street on Sept. 19, 2025.Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/30/texas-universities-course-reviews/The federal and state governments want restrictions on recognizing trans and nonbinary people. Here’s how Texas’ higher education leaders are responding.By Jessica PriestTue, 30 Sep 2025 19:42:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/30/texas-universities-course-reviews/A viral video of a Texas A&M student confronting a professor over a discussion of gender identity in a children's literature class sparked controversy earlier this month. In the aftermath, some university systems and community colleges have ordered a review of their courses.Students and supporters gather on campus to protest the Texas A&M University Board of Regents' decision on Draggieland in College Station, TX, on Wednesday, March 6, 2025.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/Professors are afraid to publicly speak out, system leaders left key questions unanswered and advocates worry for LGBTQ+ students’ mental health.By Jessica Priest, Jayme Lozano Carver, Sneha Dey, Ayden Runnels, Lindsey Byman, Stephen Simpson and Terri LangfordFri, 26 Sep 2025 11:00:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/The Texas Tech University's administration building on July 8, 2020. The Texas Tech University System issued guidance Thursday instructing faculty to comply with recent executive orders and state laws recognizing only the male and female genders.View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-tech-transgender-restrictions-angelo-state-university/Instead of a campus-wide announcement, faculty members say the restrictions have trickled down through department chairs and college meetings.By Alex Nguyen, Lindsey Byman and Jessica PriestThu, 25 Sep 2025 17:02:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-tech-transgender-restrictions-angelo-state-university/A student walks through campus at Angelo State University on Sept. 24 in San Angelo.A student walks through campus at Angelo State University on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in San Angelo.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/texas-a-m-welsh-firing-professor-gender-mccoul/Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.By Jessica Priest, Nicholas Gutteridge and Kate McGeeFri, 19 Sep 2025 12:32:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/texas-a-m-welsh-firing-professor-gender-mccoul/Classroom 466, where former professor Melissa McCoul taught her ENGL 360: Literature for Children class, inside the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Texas A&M University on Sept. 18, 2025 in College Station.Room 466 inside the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Texas A&M University, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in College Station. (Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribune)Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-president-mark-welsh-resigns/Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.By Jessica Priest, Ayden Runnels and Nicholas GutteridgeThu, 18 Sep 2025 18:05:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-president-mark-welsh-resigns/Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty are greeted by faculty and students as he leaves campus after resigning on Sept. 19, 2025. His departure followed criticism of his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.President Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty are greeted by A&M faculty and students as he leaves campus after resigning on Sept. 19, 2025.Cassie Stricker for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-am-professor-firing-melissa-mccoul-academic-freedom/The firing happened over two years after Texas A&M stressed its support for academic freedom and amid a changing higher education landscape.By Alex Nguyen and Jessica PriestMon, 15 Sep 2025 13:13:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-am-professor-firing-melissa-mccoul-academic-freedom/The College of Liberal Arts and Humanities building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Sept. 9, 2025.The College of Liberal Arts and Humanities building at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025.Adriano Espinosa for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-am-professor-fired-melissa-mccoul-statement/An attorney for Melissa McCoul, seen in a video clashing with a student over gender-identity content in her class, said the professor is weighing her legal options.By Nicholas Gutteridge, Alex Nguyen and Jessica PriestWed, 10 Sep 2025 19:39:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/10/texas-am-professor-fired-melissa-mccoul-statement/The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station is seen on Sept. 9, 2025.The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.Adriano Espinosa for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/After the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description.By Jessica Priest, Nicholas Gutteridge, Alex Nguyen and Ayden RunnelsMon, 08 Sep 2025 23:08:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/08/texas-am-video-professor-student-gender-identity-content/The Texas A&M University bell tower is seen on Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.The Texas A&M bell tower on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/texas-tech-university-brandon-creighton-chancellor/More Texas universities are turning to politicians to lead their systems, preferring political clout over academic credentials.By Jessica PriestFri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/05/texas-tech-university-brandon-creighton-chancellor/From left: Glen Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System; Brandon Creighton, sole finalist for Texas Tech University System chancellor; and John Zerwas, chancellor of the University of Texas System. Texas' public universities have recently favored politically connected leaders for their systems' top jobs.From left: Glen Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M System; Brandon Creighton, sole finalist for Texas Tech chancellor; and John Zerwas, chancellor of the UT System.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-universities-campuses-students-protests/The law banned “expressive activity” on campuses from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., among other restrictions. “The Court cannot trust the universities to enforce their policies in a constitutional way,” the judge said.By Nicholas Gutteridge and Jessica PriestWed, 03 Sep 2025 15:13:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/texas-universities-campuses-students-protests/Law enforcement take a protester away during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin on April 29, 2024. Several student groups are suing to block a state law that limits protests on campuses.Law enforcement leads a pro-Palestinian protester away in custody as they begin to remove demonstrators from an encampment set up in support of Gaza on the UT-Austin campus on April 29, 2024.Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-house-representative-jodie-laubenberg-dies/Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, announced her passing Monday, calling her “one of the first and most effective fighters” for the anti-abortion movement.By Jessica Priest and Jessica Shuran YuTue, 02 Sep 2025 14:54:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-house-representative-jodie-laubenberg-dies/Then-state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, speaks at a press conference at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 25, 2017.Then-state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, speaks at a press conference at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 25, 2017.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/31/texas-tech-university-brandon-creighton-chancellor/The Conroe Republican has authored some of Texas’ major higher education legislation in recent years. He will take over as chancellor once he resigns from the Texas Senate.By Jessica Priest and Alex NguyenSun, 31 Aug 2025 17:33:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/31/texas-tech-university-brandon-creighton-chancellor/State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, on the Senate floor on the second-to-the-last day of the 89th legislative session on June 1, 2025.State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, on the Senate floor on the second-to-the-last day of the 89th legislative session on June 1, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-am-international-president/Christopher Maynard will be the next leader of the Laredo university.By Jessica PriestThu, 28 Aug 2025 19:05:18 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-am-international-president/Christopher Maynard, who currently serves as provost at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, was named Thursday as the sole finalist to become president of Texas A&M International University in Laredo.Texas A&M International University on Feb. 18, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/jodey-arrington-brandon-creighton-texas-tech-chancellor/Arrington represents Lubbock in Congress. Creighton is a longtime state lawmaker.By Kate McGee, Gabby Birenbaum and Jessica PriestThu, 28 Aug 2025 16:51:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/jodey-arrington-brandon-creighton-texas-tech-chancellor/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/texas-international-student-enrollment-universities/An enrollment drop could cost the Texas economy hundreds of millions of dollars, the reports say.By Jessica PriestTue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/texas-international-student-enrollment-universities/The University of North Texas has the most international students in the state. Fewer international students are expected to enroll in Texas schools this fall as they face more scrutiny, requirements and restrictions from the Trump administration, according to two recent reports.Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on February 24, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/university-texas-system-faculty-senates-protests-campus-speech/The changes are in response to new state laws seeking to limit faculty’s influence and put guardrails on campus demonstrations.By Jessica PriestThu, 21 Aug 2025 10:20:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/university-texas-system-faculty-senates-protests-campus-speech/The University of Texas System board of regents on Thursday took steps to implement two new state laws that will limit faculty's influence and how protests can be conducted on campuses.A view of the UT Tower from the business building on the UT Austin campus during finals week on April 28, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-colleges-undocumented-immigrants-tuition-ruling/The state isn’t providing schools with guidance and advocates say students who still qualify for lower rates are being asked to pay thousands more.By Jessica PriestTue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/19/texas-colleges-undocumented-immigrants-tuition-ruling/Katerin, a graduate student at the University of Houston, saw her tuition bill almost double after a federal court ruling in June ended the in-state tuition benefit for DACA students. "I saw the email when I got to work ... I literally cried. I felt like I was in a cage, " she said.Katerin M.S., 24, a graduate student in social work at the University of Houston, works full time as a case worker while managing her schoolwork. Covered by DACA, she is among those advocates and attorneys say have lawful presence and should remain eligible for in-state tuition. Despite this, the university initially raised her tuition. Katerin stands outside her work office on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in Houston. “I saw the email when I got to work. Even just thinking about it makes me emotional. I couldn’t escape from it. I literally cried. I felt like I was in a cage — like if you don’t pay it or you don’t do what they tell you by Aug. 8, that is what’s due, and that is what you’re going to have to pay,” she said.Hope Mora for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/west-texas-a-m-drag-ban-fifth-circuit-appeals/In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment.By Jessica PriestMon, 18 Aug 2025 16:34:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/west-texas-a-m-drag-ban-fifth-circuit-appeals/Protesters on March 23, 2023 demonstrated against the West Texas A&M University president’s decision to cancel a drag performance.Protesters marched against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March. 23, 2023.David Bowser for The Texas Tribune