https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enWed, 16 Apr 2025 16:54:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/university-texas-rio-grande-valley-international-students-lawsuit/The four students were involved in minor criminal cases that have been resolved, which they argue shouldn’t be used to justify ending their higher ed goals in Texas.By Jessica PriestWed, 16 Apr 2025 16:54:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/university-texas-rio-grande-valley-international-students-lawsuit/Four University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley are suing the Department of Homeland Security after they say their legal immigration status was unlawfully terminated based on minor criminal cases that have already been resolved.Students walk through a bridge connecting two sides of campus at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 19, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/texas-senate-bill-terrorism-university-free-speech/The bill would require universities to report any visa-holding students who support terrorism, but its vague language could be dangerous, civil rights groups say.By Jessica PriestWed, 16 Apr 2025 16:35:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/texas-senate-bill-terrorism-university-free-speech/State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, on Jan. 28, 2025. The committee on Wednesday heard testimony on a bill that would require universities to report visa-holding students accused of supporting terrorist activity. Law students who testified Wednesday said the bill was too vague and would trample on their free speech rights.State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, lays out the SB2 plan for a education savings account program on Jan. 28, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-senate-bill-37-governing-boards-faculty-senates/An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds.By Jessica PriestThu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-senate-bill-37-governing-boards-faculty-senates/Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on Nov. 29, 2021.Jack Myer for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-universities-international-students-legal-status/The people affected include a University of Houston professor from Korea who was teaching upper level math under a type of student visa that allows graduates to work in their field of study.By Jessica Priest and Ayden RunnelsWed, 09 Apr 2025 19:25:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/09/texas-universities-international-students-legal-status/Nineteen University of Texas at Dallas students were removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database, according to UTD officials, who said they were working through the situation with those affected.University of North Texas students walk past the eagle statue on Feb. 13, 2024. The Soaring Eagle Statue was comissioned in celebration of UNT's centennial in 1990.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-am-international-students/The Trump administration has said it has revoked the visas of more than 300 international students across the country in the last three weeks.By Jessica PriestTue, 08 Apr 2025 17:26:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-am-international-students/Eleven international students' ability to stay in the U.S. legally was revoked, Texas A&M officials said Tuesday.Students walk to class on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station on Nov. 15, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-legislature-hearing-antisemitism-bill/Lawmakers propose addressing antisemitism by requiring schools to use a set definition. Critics say the measure will stifle speech.By Jessica PriestTue, 25 Mar 2025 21:03:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-legislature-hearing-antisemitism-bill/The Senate Committee on Education K-16 holds a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025The Senate Committee on Education K-16 holds a hearing for SB2 to establish an education savings account program on Jan. 28, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/university-texas-austin-jim-davis-jay-hartzell-faculty/Jim Davis told professors he’ll share their concerns with lawmakers about proposals that would increase oversight on curricula and hiring. Elsewhere on campus, former UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell criticized the bills.By Jessica PriestMon, 24 Mar 2025 19:17:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/university-texas-austin-jim-davis-jay-hartzell-faculty/University of Texas at Austin's interim president Jim Davis speaks during a meeting with faculty on March 24, 2025.UT-Austin’s interim president Jim Davis speaks during a university faculty council meeting on March 25, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/texas-am-drag-show-ban-judge-draggieland/Judge Lee H. Rosenthal said the student group that organizes Draggieland, the Queer Empowerment Council, was likely to succeed in showing the ban violates the First Amendment.By Jessica PriestMon, 24 Mar 2025 10:58:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/texas-am-drag-show-ban-judge-draggieland/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.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/2025/03/20/texas-governing-boards-faculty-senates/Lawmakers say several bills under consideration Thursday would “address the unchecked authority of faculty.” They would expand university governing boards’ oversight powers.By Jessica PriestThu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-governing-boards-faculty-senates/The University of Texas System's Board of Regents during a regular meeting in Austin on May 3, 2023. Texas senators on Thursday will hear testimony on a bill that would expand governing boards' power to approve curricula and new hires at their universities.The UT system Board of Regents during a regular meeting in Austin on May 3, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/university-texas-system-drag-show-ban/The move comes a few weeks after the Texas A&M System issued a similar ban, which is being challenged in court.By Jessica PriestTue, 18 Mar 2025 13:59:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/university-texas-system-drag-show-ban/Dulce Gabbana applies makeup on Angelo Rios, a university student, for Day of Drag at Texas A&M University in College Station on March 6, 2025. The University of Texas System announced Tuesday it will ban its universities from hosting drag shows in their facilities, a few weeks after the Texas A&M System issued a similar ban.Dulce Gabbana applies makeup on Angelo Rios, a university student, for Day of Drag at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, on Wednesday, March 6, 2025.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-am-system-university-houston-victoria/Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said Texas A&M is better positioned to grow the Victoria school and serve the region’s petrochemical and agriculture industries.By Jessica PriestMon, 17 Mar 2025 18:04:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-am-system-university-houston-victoria/A pair of bills filed in the Texas House and Senate would transfer the University of Houston's Victoria campus to the Texas A&M University System.Students walk to class on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station on Nov. 15, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/doe-university-north-texas-rice-civil-rights-investigation/The Texas universities are among dozens accused of violating the law by partnering with a group that had sought to increase diversity in graduate programs.By Jessica PriestFri, 14 Mar 2025 14:43:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/doe-university-north-texas-rice-civil-rights-investigation/Rice University, along with the University of North Texas-Denton, are being investigated for allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.Rice University in Houston on March 11, 2020.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-universities-governing-boards-hiring-curricula-faculty-senates/Senate Bill 37 would create a state office to investigate complaints against universities and require governing boards to ensure courses don’t endorse certain ideologies.By Jessica PriestThu, 13 Mar 2025 17:29:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-universities-governing-boards-hiring-curricula-faculty-senates/The Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020. Sen. Brandon Creighton filed a bill that would create an office to investigate complaints against Texas' public universities and that would give more power to universities' governing boards over some hiring and curriculum decisions.View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/america-first-legal-texas-tech-settlement/George Stewart sued Texas Tech University Health Science Center and five other medical schools claiming they rejected him in favor of lesser qualified students of color.By Jessica PriestThu, 13 Mar 2025 13:41:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/america-first-legal-texas-tech-settlement/The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.Texas Tech Universityhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-southern-university-thurgood-marshall-law-school/Law students might lose financial aid if TSU does not address health and safety concerns about the building.By Jessica PriestThu, 13 Mar 2025 10:14:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-southern-university-thurgood-marshall-law-school/Students walk along the Tiger Walk through campus on the first day of class at Texas Southern University on Aug. 23, 2021.Students walk along the Tiger Walk through campus on the first day of class at Texas Southern University on Aug. 23, 2021.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-am-system-chancellor-glenn-hegar/Hegar, who currently serves as Texas comptroller, will replace A&M Chancellor John Sharp in leading the 157,000-student system.By Jessica PriestFri, 07 Mar 2025 11:34:17 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-am-system-chancellor-glenn-hegar/Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar speaks with Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins at Studio 919 in Austin on Jan. 13, 2024. He will be the Texas A&M System's next chancellor.Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar speaks with Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins at Studio 919 in Austin on Jan. 13, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/university-north-texas-pro-palestine-student-art-exhibit/Five GOP lawmakers who targeted the exhibit also called for the cancellation of the “Palestinian Children and the Politics of Genocide” lecture, which is still scheduled.By Jessica PriestTue, 04 Mar 2025 20:04:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/university-north-texas-pro-palestine-student-art-exhibit/“Perceptions: Observations & Reflections of the Western Muslim,” a student art exhibit at the Universty of North Texas in Denton, was taken down by its creators two days before the end of its run.Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on February 24, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-am-system-drag-shows-draggieland/The move sparked a new First Amendment fight between students and university administrators.By Jessica PriestFri, 28 Feb 2025 13:21:55 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-am-system-drag-shows-draggieland/Drag queens Hanna Santanna and Lily Adonis Kline during a lip-sync battle to the song "Roar" by Katy Perry at the Draggieland show in Rudder Theater on the A&M campus in College Station on March 28, 2024.Drag queens Hanna Santanna and Lily Adonis Kline during a head-to-head lip-sync battle at the Draggieland show in Rudder Theater on Thursday March 28, 2024.Courtesy of Ashely Bautista/The Battalionhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-dei-ban-universities-funding/In a letter, Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt said they found “numerous” violations of the law, but didn’t provide specifics.By Jessica PriestFri, 28 Feb 2025 11:07:45 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-dei-ban-universities-funding/Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, above, and Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, sent a letter this week to public university leaders telling them university funds would not be increased this year because some of them have not fully complied with the state's DEI ban.State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, speaks at a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/23/texas-am-system-chancellor-search/Sources indicate the board has narrowed its search to five candidates: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, University of Alabama President Stuart Bell and state Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin.By Kate McGee and Jessica PriestSun, 23 Feb 2025 14:46:21 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/23/texas-am-system-chancellor-search/The Texas A&M University campus on June 15, 2020 in College Station.The Texas A&M University campus on June 15, 2020 in College Station.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune