https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kate-mcgee/The latest news by Kate McGee.enFri, 30 Jun 2023 10:12:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/30/texas-supreme-court-biden-student-loans-ruling/The court ruled in favor of the six GOP-led states that alleged President Joe Biden overstepped his authority with his loan forgiveness plan.Kate McGeeFri, 30 Jun 2023 10:12:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/30/texas-supreme-court-biden-student-loans-ruling/A student sits by the Littlefield Fountain at the University of Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program is unconstitutional, which affects more than 1 million Texans.A student sits by the Littlefield Fountain at the University of Texas on May 30, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/texas-college-top-ten-percent-plan-supreme-court/Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the practice unconstitutional, admissions experts say other states could look to Texas’ Top 10% Plan as a way to diversify their student bodies.Kate McGeeThu, 29 Jun 2023 10:24:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/texas-college-top-ten-percent-plan-supreme-court/The Texas flag flies on the south lawn of the University of Texas at Austin campus. After the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the consideration of race in college admissions, some experts say Texas’ Top 10% Plan could become a new model for other states.The Texas flag flies on the south lawn of The Univerisity of Texas at Austin campus on Dec. 3, 2019.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/supreme-court-affirmative-action-ruling-texas/No other public universities use race as a factor, but Texas private schools like Rice and Southern Methodist University will be impacted.Kate McGeeThu, 29 Jun 2023 09:41:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/supreme-court-affirmative-action-ruling-texas/Students walk through the University of Texas campus. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that colleges can no longer consider race in admissions.Students walk through the University of Texas campus on May 30, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/26/texas-am-dei-compliance-review/According to a June 13 letter, all Texas A&M universities must provide details on a wide range of programs, trainings and presentations that touch on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus, including faculty organizations and mission statements.Kate McGeeMon, 26 Jun 2023 19:45:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/26/texas-am-dei-compliance-review/Texas A&M University in College Station.Texas A&M University in College Station.Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/stephen-f-austin-state-university-cyberattack/The East Texas university says the FBI is investigating the cyberattack, which drew the school to a halt about 10 days ago, shutting down the internet and disrupting summer classes.Kate McGeeTue, 20 Jun 2023 18:26:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/stephen-f-austin-state-university-cyberattack/Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022.Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/texas-universities-affirmative-action/Here’s what you need to know ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s expected ruling on two cases challenging the policy commonly known as affirmative action in college admissions.Kate McGeeFri, 16 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/texas-universities-affirmative-action/Students walk through halls on the University of North Texas campus in Denton on Feb. 24, 2022.Students walk through halls on the University of North Texas campus in Denton on Feb. 24, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/05/texas-legislature-universities-higher-education/Texas lawmakers made huge investments in community colleges and created new endowments for public universities. They also banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices and gave themselves more control over university faculty tenure.Kate McGeeMon, 05 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/05/texas-legislature-universities-higher-education/Democratic lawmakers gather at the dais in the Texas House chamber on April 6, 2023, in support of an amendment that would have preserved DEI initiatives in Texas’ public universities.Democratic lawmakers gather at the dias in the House chamber in support of an amendment that would have preserved DEI initiates in Texas’ public universities at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-legislature-student-parents/Now that Texas has a near-total ban on abortion, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are trying to make sure colleges are serving students who are pregnant or have children.Kate McGeeTue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-legislature-student-parents/While Isabel Torres was completing her associates degree at Austin Community College, she was able to use the campus daycare for her daughter. “It was like winning the lottery,” she said.Isabel Torres works at the welcome desk at Austin Community College at Eastview on May 25, 2023. Torres is a single mother, and while completing her associates degree, needed daycare for her daughter. When she was offered a spot at the campus daycare, “It was like winning the lottery,” she said.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/sine-die-texas-legislature-2023/The 2023 legislative session started with a $32.7 billion surplus. It was mired in Republican infighting and multiple scandals. Then, the House impeached the state’s attorney general.Kate McGee and Matthew WatkinsMon, 29 May 2023 19:05:15 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/29/sine-die-texas-legislature-2023/House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the session on May 29.House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the 88th session Sine Die on May 29, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-university-faculty-tenure-ban-fails/The state Senate originally passed a bill to ban tenure, but on Saturday it approved the House’s counterproposal, which enshrines tenure in state law.Kate McGeeSat, 27 May 2023 17:18:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-university-faculty-tenure-ban-fails/The Texas A&M University campus. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wanted to ban faculty tenure at Texas public universities, and the Senate passed a bill to do so. On Saturday, senators instead voted in favor of a House version of the bill that preserves tenure.The Texas A&M University campus. Shelby Knowles/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-university-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-bill-conference/Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill on June 14, making Texas the second state in the country, after Florida, to ban DEI offices at public universities.Kate McGeeSat, 27 May 2023 15:25:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-university-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-bill-conference/Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. State lawmakers are one step closer to banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at Texas public universities.Stephen F. Austin University on Oct. 3, 2022, in Nacogdoches.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/paxton-texas-attorney-general/Child support enforcement, environmental regulation, consumer protection and a host of other responsibilities fall under the attorney general’s realm at what is essentially the state’s largest law firm.Kate McGeeSat, 27 May 2023 12:24:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/paxton-texas-attorney-general/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, third from left, walks with Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II, second from left, and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, right, to a press conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on April 26, 2022.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center right, walks with Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II, center left, and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, right, to a press conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2022. Earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Texas v. Texas, the enforcement of the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” policy that required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico as they waited for hearings in U.S. immigration court. (Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune).Eric Lee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/tsu-president-lesia-crumpton-young-retires/Lesia Crumpton-Young said she is leaving TSU to help elevate historically Black colleges and universities on the national stage.Kate McGeeFri, 26 May 2023 20:12:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/tsu-president-lesia-crumpton-young-retires/Lesia Crumpton-Young has resigned from her position as president of Texas Southern University.Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, 13th President of Texas Southern University.Texas Southern Universityhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-college-transgender-athletes/Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said he would support legislation prohibiting transgender men from competing on men’s college sports teams and transgender women from joining women’s college athletic teams.Kate McGeeFri, 26 May 2023 20:01:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-college-transgender-athletes/A runner prepares for the start of a race at a track meet in Mansfield, Ohio on May 23.A runner prepares for the start of a race at a track meet in Mansfield, Ohio on May 23, 2023.Eric Marshall/News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Reutershttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/civitas-institute-professor-tenure/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to eliminate tenure, but his attempts have impacted the institute he helped create.Kate McGeeTue, 23 May 2023 11:30:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/civitas-institute-professor-tenure/The University of Texas at Austin campus.The University of Texas at Austin campus.Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-house-tenure/The Texas Senate wants to ban tenure. The House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that would instead enshrine tenure policies in state law. After final passage, the two chambers have a week left to come to a compromise.Kate McGeeMon, 22 May 2023 20:32:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-house-tenure/The student union at the University of North Texas campus in Denton on May 8, 2020.Signage outside the student union at the University of North Texas campus in Denton on May 08, 2020.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-legislation-ut-austin-affirmative-action/State lawmakers passed legislation that would ensure the UT flagship can continue to cap the number of students it automatically admits because of their academic achievement at 75%, giving the university room to accept other students using different criteria.Kate McGeeMon, 22 May 2023 19:53:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-legislation-ut-austin-affirmative-action/The University of Texas at Austin campus on Dec. 19, 2018.The University of Texas campus on December 19, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-dei-university-bill/Republicans are at odds on whether to advance, contest or even toss out the House’s amended version of the bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices.Kate McGeeSat, 20 May 2023 00:10:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-dei-university-bill/Students on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 29, 2021.Students on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 29, 2021.Jack Myer for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-community-college-finance-senate/Supporters of the measure said it will help the colleges better prepare students for the workforce.Kate McGeeFri, 19 May 2023 18:59:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-community-college-finance-senate/A student walks down 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/2023/05/18/texas-house-tenure-bill/The Senate wants to eliminate tenure altogether while the House seeks to enshrine it in state law. The two chambers have until May 26 to come to an agreement.Kate McGeeThu, 18 May 2023 13:25:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/18/texas-house-tenure-bill/Students walk across campus at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville on Aug. 20, 2020.Students walk across the campus at Sam Houston State University on Aug. 20, 2020, in Huntsville.Mark Felix/The Texas Tribune