TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

The guidance asks universities in the system to avoid using the acronym DEI on their websites and walk a fine line between organizing events that “support diversity in a general way” but don’t “promote preferential treatment of any particular group.”

Impeachment at all levels of government are becoming more common, a political scientist said. It could make the political tool pointless.

Some members of the university system’s board of regents said they wanted to promote conservative causes at the flagship campus and resisted efforts to hire journalism professor Kathleen O. McElroy, who they believed would work counter to those goals.

In this week’s episode, we discuss two cases at Texas A&M University that raised questions of academic freedom — and the fallout that ensued.

A new internal report, conducted by the university system’s office of general counsel, also looked into Texas A&M’s decision to temporarily suspend a respected opioids expert after she was accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a lecture.

In his first comments as interim president, Mark A. Welsh IIII cast recent concerns over political interference in Texas A&M’s employment decisions as “communication breakdowns.”

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham alleged Wednesday that opioids expert Joy Alonzo told students in a guest lecture that “Your Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die.” Alonzo denied the claims.

The system’s board also plans to formally appoint an interim president after Katherine Banks resigned last week following news that the school changed its job offer to Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor, after outcries from conservative groups.

The professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters.

The university announced the hiring of Kathleen McElroy, a Black former New York Times journalist, but later backtracked on its offer amid conservative pushback.

The university celebrated its decision to hire Kathleen McElroy to revive its journalism program. She says she’s staying at UT after she felt judged because of her race and gender.

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.

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.

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.

While the proposed tenure ban will likely face steep opposition in the Texas House, faculty say lawmakers’ recent attacks on higher education have raised concerns about whether Texas is the best state to build their career.

Prairie View A&M University could separate from the Texas A&M University System if the national alumni association president has his way.

The vote of no-confidence came over Wendler’s handling of the drag show. Faculty said he’s also exhibited poor leadership with other issues.

A poll conducted by the Council of Principal Investigators, an elected group of faculty who help oversee research activity at the school, found respondents distrust the president’s decision making since she took the helm nearly two years ago.

The lawsuit comes after protests each day this week, calling for university president Walter Wendler to reinstate the drag show and step down.

Students and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendler’s portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights.

The Texas A&M, Texas State and University of Houston systems are the latest to make changes after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in their hiring practices.

The system leaders’ decision comes weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop considering diversity in hiring. Texas A&M University also recently changed its hiring practices.

Community colleges want a funding overhaul this legislative session, and four-year universities are hoping for a boost in research funds. Meanwhile, faculty are bracing for a potential threat to tenure and limits to conversations about race.

Regents said they chose the UT System because of its access to the Permanent University Fund, which consists of oil and gas assets.

The announcement kicks off a required 21-day period before she can be formally appointed. If approved, LeGrande will take over at the end of the current academic year.

The SFA Board of Regents is expected to decide whether to join a system before the end of the semester. The Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech and University of Texas systems have all expressed interest in adding the Nacogdoches school to their folds.

UT-Austin professor Richard Lowery is represented by America First Legal — a group created by Stephen Miller, a policy adviser for former President Donald Trump, and Jonathan Mitchell, a former solicitor general for Texas and the legal architect of the state’s six-week abortion ban.

The board agreed to spend $85 million on a law and education building and another $85 million on a research and innovation center.

Simmons will teach, help maintain new fundraising partnerships and launch a college and university leadership training academy.

So far, about 14 students could receive the aid, but the number might increase as more candidates are identified, the university system said.

The chancellor instructed universities and agencies in the system to dissolve all agreements, especially those related to academics, research and intellectual property.

The student newspaper will continue as an online-only news organization after the spring semester. But the university’s unilateral decision to end the print edition without student input has students and faculty concerned about its editorial independence.

The Texas Legislature has not approved bonds to fund capital projects on public university campuses since 2015, and many school leaders say they need help to build new buildings and maintain current structures.

Sharp talked about how higher ed survives the pandemic, the obstacles to running a world-class public university and the future of college football.

Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneThe Texas A&M University System is expected to begin offering free on-campus COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff by the end of the week. The university system will send out about 15,000 mouth swab test kits each month to be distributed across its 11 university campuses. System officials have $16 million set aside for the COVID-19 testing program, said Laylan Copelin, system spokesperson. The University of Texas at Austin, one of Texas most populous schools, will charge for a COVID-19 test. Disclosure: Texas A&M System, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas-Arlington, University of Texas at El Paso, and Texas Tech University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporcate sponsors.

HOUSTON Texas A&M System will provide free COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff at all 11 campuses in Texas, the university system announced Tuesday. Ensuring the health and safety of our students is our top priority, said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. The university encourages students, faculty and staff to get tested if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, or suspect they have been exposed to someone with the virus. To get tested, patients must sign up online, which will be established at each campus. Meanwhile, Texas A&M has created a Return to Campus guide for all students ahead of the Fall 2020 semester.