https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kate-mcgee/The latest news by Kate McGee.enTue, 20 Jun 2023 18:26:54 -0500https://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 Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-transgender-college-athletes-ban/Senate Bill 15 would allow people to sue colleges or universities they believe violate a prohibition on trans athletes’ sports participation.Kate McGeeWed, 17 May 2023 15:30:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-transgender-college-athletes-ban/Swimmers compete in the Region VIII-5A Swim Meet at Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium on Feb. 4.Swimmers compete in the Region VIII-5A Swim Meet at Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Texas.Angela Piazza/Caller-Times/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-house-tenure-dei-bills/Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, pledged to defend his legislation dialing back Senate bills that would eliminate tenure and ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices. But faculty and students say even the House versions will hurt higher education.Kate McGeeWed, 10 May 2023 16:54:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-house-tenure-dei-bills/University of Texas at Austin graduate student Lee Kravchenko participates in a chant during a sit-in for the protection of academic freedom and diversity, equity and inclusion at the Capitol on March 23, 2023.UT Austin grad student Lee Kravchenko participates in a chant during a sit-in for the protection of academic freedom and DEI at the Capitol on Mar. 23, 2023.Pu Ying Huang/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/07/texas-house-tenure-bill/A new version of Senate Bill 18 scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday would keep faculty tenure and direct university governing boards to establish policies to grant and revoke tenure.Kate McGeeSun, 07 May 2023 13:09:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/07/texas-house-tenure-bill/Students walked through the University of North Texas campus in Denton on March 22, 2022.Students walk through campus at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-diversity-equity-legislation-ban/A new version of Senate Bill 17 expected to be considered by the House’s Higher Education Committee on Monday would still ban DEI offices and prohibit required diversity training, but it would open the door for university boards of regents to approve such programs in certain circumstances.Kate McGeeFri, 05 May 2023 17:10:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-diversity-equity-legislation-ban/Posters reading “We Belong Here” litter the Capitol’s rotunda floor during a March 23 protest over a proposed ban to diversity practices at public universities.Illustrated posters reading “We Belong Here” litter the Capitol’s rotunda floor during Texas Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s protest of HB1 Rider No. 186, which would defund DEI initiatives at public universities, on Mar. 23, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune