Texas Tech system’s vague guidelines on gender identity spur more questions than answers
Faculty have spent weeks seeking clarity on new restrictions, which have often been issued by word of mouth. A written Q&A was rescinded. Full Story
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Jessica Priest covers higher education, working in partnership with Open Campus. She joined the Tribune in 2022 as an engagement reporter in the ProPublica/Texas Tribune joint investigative unit, contributing to a series that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the explanatory reporting category. Prior to the Tribune, Jessica worked for the Fort Worth Report, USA Today, the Victoria Advocate and the Temple Daily Telegram, reporting on topics that included criminal justice, the environment and local government. Her work has often made an impact. The state’s highest criminal court granted a death row inmate a new trial after she detailed a prosecutor’s conflicts of interest. After she exposed questionable hirings and payments at a port and later a water district in another part of the state, both public entities underwent reforms. Jessica was born in Houston and graduated from Sam Houston State University.
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![The Texas Tech University Administration Building tower sits on campus in Lubbock, Texas, Sept. 30, 2025.]()
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UT-Austin considering offer to adopt Trump priorities for funding advantages
The funding deal would reportedly ask the university to adopt a stricter definition of gender and a tuition freeze, among other conditions. Full Story
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What we know about Texas colleges reviewing courses amid push to limit gender identity instruction
The federal and state governments want restrictions on recognizing trans and nonbinary people. Here’s how Texas’ higher education leaders are responding. Full Story
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![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.]()
Credit: Ishika Samant for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Tech’s limits on gender identity discussion deepen fears of politics breaching academic freedom
Professors are afraid to publicly speak out, system leaders left key questions unanswered and advocates worry for LGBTQ+ students’ mental health. Full Story
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![View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.]()
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Angelo State University bans classroom discussions of transgender identities, stirring criticism and confusion
Instead of a campus-wide announcement, faculty members say the restrictions have trickled down through department chairs and college meetings. Full Story
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![A student walks through campus at Angelo State University on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in San Angelo.]()
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How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M
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. Full Story
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![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)]()
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Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video
Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class. Full Story
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![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.]()
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Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens 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. Full Story
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![The College of Liberal Arts and Humanities building at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas on Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2025.]()
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Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination
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. Full Story
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![The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.]()
Credit: Adriano Espinosa for The Texas Tribune -
Video of clash over gender-identity content in Texas A&M children’s lit class leads to firing, removals
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. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M bell tower on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.]()
Credit: Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribune