Higher Education

As students return to colleges and universities across Texas, questions remain regarding discussions of gender and race in the classroom and on campus. Our Samantha Larned reports on the latest from the Texas Tech and Texas A&M university systems.

As students return to colleges and universities across the state, questions remain regarding discussions of gender and race on Texas campuses. Faculty with the Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University systems are dealing with the impact of new policies on their class curriculums, as West Texas A&M continues to face legal challenges to its drag performance ban.

Legal questions remain in the “resign-to-run” disagreement between Lubbock County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jason Corley and County Judge Curtis Parrish. Corley was restored to the commission, at least temporarily, at the end of December, while the case for his possible replacement is under review by the Texas Supreme Court. Meanwhile, KERA's Bill Zeeble reports that the state has launched a website where folks can file complaints about public colleges and universities, tied to recent laws like anti-DEI legislation.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board office of the Ombudsman has opened a new website where people can report alleged violations of state law in colleges and universities.

A recent study finds rural nurses have to navigate a lack of resources and support when training to provide specialized sexual assault care. And Texas is officially the first state to stop relying on the American Bar Association to approve law schools. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports an order this week gives that responsibility to the Texas Supreme Court. Meanwhile, flu cases in Texas continue to surge, reaching their highest numbers so far this flu season.

The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday finalized a tentative opinion issued in September that no longer requires soon-to-be lawyers to attend a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. The power to approve those law schools now rests with the state's highest civil court.

Following the Dec. 1 memorandum from Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent letters to each of the five presidents within the Tech system, calling upon them not to restrict academic freedom or classroom instruction based on viewpoint.

Effective immediately, Texas Tech University faculty are prohibited from ‘advocacy or promotion’ of certain topics related to sex and race in their professional capacity. A memorandum from system chancellor Brandon Creighton outlines materials which will be required to go through a review process overseen by the board of regents.

Houston-area senator Brandon Creighton begins his tenure as the Texas Tech System’s new chancellor today. Our Brad Burt reports Creighton sat alongside Dr. Tedd Mitchell for the former chancellor's final board of regents meeting. Meanwhile, KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports international student enrollment in the U.S. is dropping, leading to a projected $1 billion revenue loss this fall.

The Select Committees on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were formed days after Kirk's assassination on a Utah college campus. Members assembled Thursday in Austin for their first meeting to assess state free speech laws.