https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sneha-dey/The latest news by Sneha Dey.enWed, 24 Apr 2024 13:22:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/ut-austin-israel-hamas-war-palestine-student-arrests/Gov. Greg Abbott expressed support for the arrests, which come amid tensions on college campuses across the country over the Israel-Hamas war.By Sneha Dey, Ikram Mohamed, Annie Xia and William MelhadoWed, 24 Apr 2024 13:22:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/ut-austin-israel-hamas-war-palestine-student-arrests/Protesters on Wednesday during a student demonstration in support of Palestine at the University of Texas at Austin campus.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/19/texas-colleges-dei-ban/As administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.By Sneha DeyFri, 19 Apr 2024 12:36:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/19/texas-colleges-dei-ban/University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.The University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell on April 18, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-am-bonfire-tradition/A university system regent has sought input from the victims’ families about restoring the tradition, which was suspended after the 1999 tragedy.By Sneha DeyTue, 09 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-am-bonfire-tradition/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/08/fafsa-immigrant-students-congress-texas-democrats/Students whose parents do not have Social Security numbers have been blocked from completing the federal financial aid form.By Sneha DeyMon, 08 Apr 2024 10:10:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/08/fafsa-immigrant-students-congress-texas-democrats/Students walk into the University of Texas at El Paso's Union East building in El Paso on March 5, 2024.Students walk into the UTEP Union East building in El Paso on March 5, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/texas-wind-energy-technician-training/The wind industry promises attractive salaries. But a lack of training programs and waning political support make it difficult to find new recruits.By Sneha DeyThu, 04 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/texas-wind-energy-technician-training/Texas State Technical College wind energy technology instructor James Chung, center, helps Steven Vasquez, left, and Shayne Howard, right, during a class in Sweetwater on March 5. Wind energy employers from the area work closely with TSTC in shaping the curricula, so recruiters know students will develop the skills they need.Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology instructor James Chung, center, helps Steven Vasquez, left, and Shayne Howard, right, troubleshoot during a lab on logic gates Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in Sweetwater.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/02/university-texas-austin-firings-dei-ban/The firings come after state leaders criticized universities for not doing enough to enforce the ban. Students say UT-Austin has already overcorrected.By Annie Xia and Sneha DeyTue, 02 Apr 2024 15:58:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/02/university-texas-austin-firings-dei-ban/Students pass in front of the Jackson School of Geosciences and Gates-Dell Complex at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 22, 2024.Students pass in front of the Jackson School of Geosciences and Gates-Dell Complex at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 22, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/israel-hamas-war-texas-universities/The governor singled out pro-Palestine groups and said they should be subject to discipline.By Sneha DeyWed, 27 Mar 2024 12:03:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/israel-hamas-war-texas-universities/Gov. Greg Abbott attends a community gathering in support of Israel at the Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin on Oct. 9, 2023.Governor Greg Abbott condemns the recent attacks on Israel during a community gathering in support of Israel at the Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin on Oct. 9, 2023. Abbott also announced efforts for Texas to support Israel, which included funding for increased security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools and an Executive Order directing all Texas state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/13/texas-community-college-free-tuition-hb-8/Community college leaders hope free tuition programs will help change the conversation about the affordability of higher education amid a growing skepticism over the value of a college degree.By Sneha DeyWed, 13 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/13/texas-community-college-free-tuition-hb-8/The Austin Community College Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.ACC Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/11/university-texas-austin-test-admissions/The decision comes after the university switched to test-optional admissions during the pandemic.By Sneha DeyMon, 11 Mar 2024 10:45:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/11/university-texas-austin-test-admissions/Students on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 22, 2024.Students on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 22, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/fafsa-glitch-texas-immigrant-students-workaround/The workaround is meant to help students meet schools’ application deadlines. College counselors say it will lead to more work and confusion.By Sneha DeyWed, 21 Feb 2024 18:17:43 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/fafsa-glitch-texas-immigrant-students-workaround/FAFSA documents sit on the table of applicant Diana Almaraz's Fort Worth home on Jan. 28, 2024.FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) documents on the table of pplicant Diana Almaraz's Fort Worth home on Jan. 28, 2024.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/texas-transfer-community-college-degrees/Black students and students over 24 are less likely to get their bachelor’s degree after transferring, the report found.By Sneha DeyWed, 07 Feb 2024 17:41:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/texas-transfer-community-college-degrees/The open lab area at San Jacinto College's Central Campus in Pasadena on August 25, 2014.The open lab area at San Jacinto College's Central Campus in Pasadena on August 25, 2014.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/texas-colleges-fafsa-financial-aid/The release of a revamped FAFSA form has blocked some students from filing the application and narrowed the time schools have to make financial aid decisions.By Sneha DeyMon, 05 Feb 2024 18:33:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/texas-colleges-fafsa-financial-aid/The U.S. Department of Education said Monday it would provide more technical support to help students and colleges deal with problems caused by the new FAFSA form.FAFSA documents lie on the table of Diana Almaraz's Fort Worth home on Jan. 28, 2024.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/fafsa-financial-aid-immigrant-students/Parents without a Social Security number still cannot complete the new FAFSA online. The U.S. Education Department has not said when it plans to fix the issue.By Sneha DeyThu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/fafsa-financial-aid-immigrant-students/Diana Almaraz with her mother Guillermina in their home in Fort Worth on Jan. 28, 2024. Almaraz, 17, struggled to file her application for financial student aid because of a technical error that prevents parents without a Social Security number to verify their identity.Diana Almaraz with her mother Guillermina in their home in Fort Worth on Jan. 28, 2024.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/fafsa-texas-financial-aid/College hopefuls should fill out the new federal student aid application to as soon as possible to get more funds.By Sneha DeyTue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/fafsa-texas-financial-aid/Early College High school juniors listen to a presentation on college applications at the Austin Community College's Round Rock campus on May 5, 2023.High school senior Topher Malone gives a presentation on college applications to juniors in National Honors Society after receiving a full ride to Harvard University on May 5, 2023, at the Early College High School at the Austin Community College Round Rock campus.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/13/henry-cuellar-texas-border-eagle-pass/The U.S. Department of Homeland Security fires off cease and desist letter to Texas after three migrants drown crossing Rio Grande near Eagle Pass.By Neelam Bohra and Sneha DeySat, 13 Jan 2024 16:54:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/13/henry-cuellar-texas-border-eagle-pass/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/12/texas-student-loan-forgiveness-save/Texas borrowers enrolled in the SAVE loan repayment program will have their debt canceled if they took out $12,000 or less and have been repaying for at least 10 years.By Sneha DeyFri, 12 Jan 2024 16:58:16 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/12/texas-student-loan-forgiveness-save/Students walk through Texas State University campus in San Marcos on Jan. 31, 2018.Students walk through Texas State University campus Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, in San Marcos, Texas.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/02/texas-community-colleges-funding/A historic $683 million investment in community colleges rewards schools for getting students to complete a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year university or participate in college courses as early as high school.By Sneha DeyTue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/02/texas-community-colleges-funding/The Austin Community College Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.The Austin Community College Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/07/vernon-texas-community-colleges/To survive, Texas community colleges have to prove their worth. But residents of this rural north Texas town are questioning what's right for them.By Sneha DeyThu, 07 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/07/vernon-texas-community-colleges/Nikki Murray, center, watches her grandson, nieces and nephew play outside her home in Vernon on Dec. 3. Murray, who became a mother at 15, didn’t finish college and is the kind of resident the local community college is trying to keep.Nikki Murray, center, watches her grandson, nieces and nephew play outside her home on Sunday, December 3, 2023 in Vernon. Murray, who works as a cashier at McDonald’s, attended Vernon College in the early 2000s but withdrew to raise her two kids while in an abusive relationship. College is still a dream for her, but she is currently settled in her job and continues to focus on caring for her family.Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/02/texas-microschool-black-children-school-vouchers/The mothers, who are counting on state legislators to reach a deal on education savings accounts, say their public schools were not equipped to create a learning space that is safe for Black kids.By Sneha DeyThu, 02 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/02/texas-microschool-black-children-school-vouchers/Mothers Anna Sneed, Chantel Jones-Bigby and Sharby Hunt-Hart with their daughters at the Rowlett Public Library in Rowlett on Oct. 26, 2023.Mothers Anna Sneed, Chantel Jones-Bigby and Sharby Hunt-Hart with their daughters at the Rowlett Public Library in Rowlett, TX on October 26, 2023.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/26/texas-cps-caseworker-turnover/The Department of Family and Protective Services has increasingly relied on housing foster kids in hotels when it can’t find them a home. In the 2022 fiscal year, after record staff turnover, more than 1 in 4 caseworkers had less than one year of experience.By Sneha DeyTue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/26/texas-cps-caseworker-turnover/Turnover at the Texas Department of Family and Protective services has soared. Employees cite low pay and heavy caseloads as some of the reasons staffers are leaving.A former DFPS employee's badge on April 6, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune