https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enMon, 21 Jul 2025 14:22:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/university-texas-system-chancellor-john-zerwas-jim-davis/Both Zerwas and Davis have been serving as interim leaders of the university system and its flagship.By Jessica PriestMon, 21 Jul 2025 14:22:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/university-texas-system-chancellor-john-zerwas-jim-davis/Then-state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, speaks to pages on the House floor on April 4, 2019. Zerwas was named the sole finalist to become the next chancellor of the University of Texas System.Then-state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, speaks to pages on the House floor on April 4, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-supreme-court-smu-united-methodist-church/The school sought to leave the church because of differences over gay marriage and clergy. The court did not decide whether SMU could be prevented from separating.By Jessica PriestFri, 27 Jun 2025 12:55:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-supreme-court-smu-united-methodist-church/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-am-accreditation/The creation of the new accrediting agency comes as Republicans have criticized existing ones for reinforcing a liberal bias in the country's higher ed institutions.By Atirikta Kumar and Jessica PriestThu, 26 Jun 2025 14:52:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-am-accreditation/The Texas A&M University System on Thursday said it is joining university systems in other Republican-led states to create a new accrediting agency. Accreditors, which review education quality standards for higher ed institutions, have recently faced criticism from Republican leaders at the state and federal level who say the agencies are partly responsible for what they deem as liberal bias in the country's colleges and universities.People take photos with the 3-ton bronze replica of the Haynes Aggie Ring at Texas A&M University on Monday, June 15, 2020 in College Station. The ring is located outside the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center near Kyle Field.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/texas-legislature-higher-ed-lege-recap/Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeyThu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/texas-legislature-higher-ed-lege-recap/Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton on Feb. 24, 2022.Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on Feb. 24, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-explainer/Some implications of the ruling ordering the policy’s end are still unknown. College access experts urged affected students not to withdraw from school while they assess their options.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest and María MéndezSat, 14 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-explainer/Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.Students head to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-costs/Thousands of undocumented students who grew up in Texas now face college tuition costs that are more than twice what other state residents pay.By Jessica PriestSat, 14 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-costs/Jorge's parents brought him to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 1 year old. Now 21, he had planned on transferring from Austin Community College to Texas State University to study mechanical engineering, but he may not be able to afford it after Texas agreed last week to stop offering in-state college tuition rates to undocumented students living in the state. The end of the policy has thrown the education plans of thousands of students like him into disarray.Jorge poses for a portrait on Sunday, June 8, 2025 in Lockhart, TX. Jorge had planned on transferring from Austin Community College to Texas State University but cannot afford the out of state tuition. He is planning to take classes through a Mexican university online. On June 4th a federal judge invalidated the law known as the "Texas Dream Act" which went into law in 2001. The law was largely uncontroversial when it passed with few votes against it but its end is being celebrated by Republican lawmakers in the Texas house and Governor Greg Abbott.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest, Sneha Dey and Ayden RunnelsWed, 04 Jun 2025 14:45:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-college-athletes-students-paid-sports-football/House Bill 126, which allows student athletes to receive a slice of the billions Texas colleges generate in revenue from their teams, now awaits the governor’s signature.By Jessica PriestWed, 28 May 2025 00:06:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-college-athletes-students-paid-sports-football/The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on August 31, 2019.The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on August 31, 2019.Eddie Gaspar/The Daily Texanhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-universities-protests-free-speech/The proposal is largely in response to massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year. Critics say it would walk back free speech protections that conservatives advocated for in previous legislative sessions.By Jessica PriestTue, 27 May 2025 23:19:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-universities-protests-free-speech/Protestors chant as Texas Department of Public Safety troopers begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestine on April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.Protestors chant at Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as they begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestine Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-governing-boards-regents-senate-bill-37/The latest version of the proposal eliminates language that would have required university curricula not to advocate that “any race, sex, ethnicity or religious belief is inherently superior to another.”By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeySat, 24 May 2025 16:00:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-governing-boards-regents-senate-bill-37/Texas State University campus in San Marcos.Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-communism-dangers-schools-fascism/The bill won bipartisan support despite efforts from multiple Democrats that would have also required students to learn about fascism and Nazism.By Jessica PriestWed, 21 May 2025 21:30:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-communism-dangers-schools-fascism/The United States flag flies at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.The United States flag flies at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-house-higher-ed-senate-bill-37-governing-boards/The House's higher education committee closed registration to testify on Senate Bill 37 less than half an hour after the hearing started. About 20 people said they didn't get to address lawmakers.By Jessica PriestThu, 15 May 2025 22:10:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-house-higher-ed-senate-bill-37-governing-boards/University students and faculty gather at the Texas Capitol’s outdoor rotunda on May 15, 2025, to speak against Senate Bill 37, which would reshape how schools pick new courses and hire administrators.University students and faculty gather at the Texas Capitol’s outdoor rotunda on May 15, 2025 to speak against Senate Bill 37, which would allow the government to reshape courses and governance in higher education.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/texas-college-campus-protest-law/Sen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech.By Jessica PriestTue, 13 May 2025 13:17:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/texas-college-campus-protest-law/The Texas Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would restrict where, when and how students can protest on university campuses. The legislation comes as a response to university protests against the Israel-Hamas war, like the ones that took place at the University of Texas at Austin last year.Texas Department of Public Safety troopers surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Texas at Austin campus on April 29, 2024.Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-international-students-immigration-fears/Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities.By Jessica PriestFri, 09 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-international-students-immigration-fears/An international student from Taiwan poses for a portrait on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on May 4, 2025. He is one of several international students in Texas worried by the federal government's recent immigration enforcement actions.International student Tim poses for a portrait at UT-Austin on May 4, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/texas-undocumented-immigrants-in-state-college-tuition/The bill would overturn a two-decade-old law allowing some undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition.By Jessica Priest and Ayden RunnelsTue, 06 May 2025 18:49:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/texas-undocumented-immigrants-in-state-college-tuition/A Texas Senate committee advanced on Tuesday a bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students.Students walk across the campus at Sam Houston State University on Aug. 20, 2020, in Huntsville.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/texas-house-higher-education-diversity-equity-teaching-bill/Senate bills that reduce the influence of faculties and restrict protests on college campuses were voted out of committee in a last-minute meeting Monday.By Jessica PriestTue, 06 May 2025 14:36:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/texas-house-higher-education-diversity-equity-teaching-bill/The House Higher Education Committee voted 6-5 to advance Senate Bill 37 and Senate Bill 2972 on Monday.The University of Texas at Austin campus.Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-antisemitism-bill-pro-palestinian-protests/The bill, which would require schools to use a definition of antisemitism when considering discipline for students, will soon head over to Abbott’s desk.By Jessica PriestTue, 29 Apr 2025 18:44:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-antisemitism-bill-pro-palestinian-protests/Protesters clash with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers during a pro-Palestinian protest on April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin. The Texas House on Tuesday approved a bill that would require schools to consider a definition of antisemitism during student disciplinary proceedings. The proposal comes a year after Texas leaders accused students who participated in the pro-Palestinian protests of engaging in antisemitic behavior.Protestors chant at Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as they begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in the Gaza conflict on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/texas-international-students-immigration-status-restored/More than 250 students in Texas had their status revoked in recent weeks. Despite the reversal, federal attorneys say they’re developing policies to resume terminations.By Jessica PriestFri, 25 Apr 2025 18:01:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/texas-international-students-immigration-status-restored/International students at the University of Texas at El Paso and several other Texas schools had their immigration status restored Friday after it was terminated by the Trump administration in recent weeks.Students walk to classes at the University of Texas at El Paso on May 9, 2019.Joel Angel Juárez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/18/texas-international-student-cases/The three former students went to UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas. While they have prevailed in court so far, many other international students’ education futures remain uncertain.By Jessica PriestFri, 18 Apr 2025 17:04:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/18/texas-international-student-cases/Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021. A federal court ordered immigration officials to restore the legal status of two people from India who were UT-Arlington students and are still living in Texas. They are among the hundreds of international students whose legal immigration status was revoked in recent weeks.Students walk through campus on the first day of classes at the University of Texas at Arlington on Aug. 27, 2021.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/john-sharp-chancellor-texas-am/The longtime Texas politician led a sprawling maroon empire through growth and political tension as chancellor and now prepares to hand the job to Glenn Hegar.By Jessica PriestThu, 17 Apr 2025 12:28:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/john-sharp-chancellor-texas-am/