https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-priest/The latest news by Jessica Priest.enWed, 28 May 2025 00:06:52 -0500https://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 Senate on Thursday refused to agree to changes the House made to Senate Bill 2972 that made it less restrictive, prompting a conference committee.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/Senate Bill 37 would give more power to university regents, who are appointed by the governor, to vet and veto new curricula and administrators.By Jessica PriestSat, 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/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 Tribune