https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kate-mcgee/The latest news by Kate McGee.enTue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/texas-higher-education-ai/Texas colleges are thinking about how to prepare students for a changing workforce and an already overburdened faculty for new challenges in the classroom.By Kate McGeeTue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/texas-higher-education-ai/The University of Texas at San Antonio is planning to launch a new college largely dedicated to artificial intelligence. The new college, expected to open in 2025, would be one of the first of its kind in the country.Scenes from the main campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio on June 15, 2021.Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-tech-university-professor-israel-hamas/The university said it is investigating whether the professor’s comments, which it described as “hateful, antisemitic, and unacceptable,” found their way into the classroom or work environment.By Kate McGeeMon, 04 Mar 2024 16:13:39 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-tech-university-professor-israel-hamas/View of the administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/01/texas-wildfire-live-updates/Get the latest updates as firefighters continue battling massive fires that have burned more than 1 million acres.By Kate McGee, Jayme Lozano Carver and Madaleine RubinFri, 01 Mar 2024 14:34:43 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/01/texas-wildfire-live-updates/A plane drops retardant on the Roughneck fire near Sanford on Sunday, March. 3, 2024.A plane prepares drops retardant on the Roughneck fire near Sanford on Sunday, March. 3, 2024.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-panhandle-wildfire/Light rain and snow Thursday allowed firefighters to gain better control of the state’s largest-ever fire, which has killed at least two people.By Kate McGee, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Pooja SalhotraThu, 29 Feb 2024 10:43:26 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-panhandle-wildfire/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/university-texas-austin-dei-ban-students/The new state law prohibits public universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Students say schools are overcorrecting.By Kate McGee and Ikram MohamedMon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/university-texas-austin-dei-ban-students/Aaliyah Barlow helps to lead the Black Student Alliance meeting at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 19, 2024.Aaliyah Barlow helps to lead the Black Student Alliance meeting at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 19, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/stephen-f-austin-finalist-president-ut-system/If approved, Neal Weaver will be the first permanent president to lead the East Texas university since it joined the UT System in 2023.By Kate McGeeThu, 22 Feb 2024 15:42:32 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/stephen-f-austin-finalist-president-ut-system/The Stephen F. Austin University campus in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022.The campus of Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/university-houston-student-fees/Students want to reallocate funding for athletics to other student services, but university leaders rejected that recommendation. Regents on Wednesday sent both sides back to the negotiating table.By Kate McGeeWed, 21 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/university-houston-student-fees/Students hold up signs in protest during the University of Houston’s board of regents meeting at the Hilton University of Houston Hotel on Wednesday.Students hold up signs in protest during the University of Houston’s board of regents meeting at the Hilton University of Houston Hotel on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/12/texas-am-qatar-closure-faculty/Professors and students on the Doha campus are devastated by the Board of Regents’ sudden decision to shutter the school by 2028.By Kate McGeeMon, 12 Feb 2024 18:56:29 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/12/texas-am-qatar-closure-faculty/The Texas A&M Administration Building in College Station on July 30, 2023.The Texas A&M Administration Building in College Station on July 30, 2023.Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/texas-am-qatar-campus/The Texas A&M Board cited heightened instability in the Middle East as the reason to end its contract with the Qatar Foundation to run the branch campus. The foundation accuses the board of falling prey to a “disinformation campaign.”By Kate McGeeThu, 08 Feb 2024 15:02:21 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/texas-am-qatar-campus/Students sit on the lawn of Texas A&M University's campus in Doha, Qatar.Students at Texas A&M students in Doha, Qatar.Emre Rende for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/unt-neal-smatresk-resigns/Under President Neal Smatresk, UNT in Denton became a Carnegie Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution.By Kate McGeeTue, 06 Feb 2024 13:13:50 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/unt-neal-smatresk-resigns/UNT President Neal Smatresk speaks during the faculty senate meeting on March 8, 2023. Smatresk announced today he will step down this summer.University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk speaks on the UNT campus in Denton on March 8, 2023.Maria Crane/North Texas Dailyhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/02/university-texas-austin-student-investigation-israel-hamas-war/Administrators are weighing possible disciplinary action against four students who criticized the university’s response to the Middle East conflict.By Kate McGeeFri, 02 Feb 2024 19:16:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/02/university-texas-austin-student-investigation-israel-hamas-war/Former teaching assistants Callie Kennedy, left, and Parham Daghighi, right, speak to a crowd at the University of Texas at Austin during a Dec. 8 protest. Kennedy and Daghighi were dismissed last year after sending a message about the Israel-Hamas conflict that the university deemed inappropriate. The university later launched an investigation into the conduct of four students who sought to have Kennedy and Daghigh reinstated.TAs Callie Kennedy, left, and Parham Daghighi, right, speak to a crowd. UT Austin students rallied at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a protest demanding the reinstatement of TAs Callie Kennedy and Parham Daghighi on Dec. 8, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/ut-austin-student-support-campaign/The sum is part of a larger philanthropic campaign to raise $6 billion for the flagship university in Austin.By Kate McGeeThu, 01 Feb 2024 16:59:25 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/ut-austin-student-support-campaign/The University of Texas tower on July 16, 2020.The University of Texas tower on July 16, 2020.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/west-texas-am-walter-wendler-panhandle-hill-institute/University president Walter Wendler’s plan to promote “Panhandle values” has conservatives cheering. But he’s not without critics.By Kate McGeeMon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/west-texas-am-walter-wendler-panhandle-hill-institute/West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler speaks to graduates during the university's commencement program on Dec. 9. Conservative critics of higher education have praised Wendler's role in securing a $20 million donation to launch a new center focused on researching "Panhandle values."President Dr. Walter V. Wendler speaks to the graduates during the West Texas A&M University Commencement program Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/west-texas-am-hill-institute/Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune suggest the new center is more closely aligned with influential conservative actors than publicly discussed.By Kate McGeeMon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/west-texas-am-hill-institute/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/13/elon-musk-austin-texas-university/The Tesla CEO and Texas resident’s charitable foundation filed an application to create the new school “dedicated to education at the highest levels.”By Kate McGeeWed, 13 Dec 2023 14:06:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/13/elon-musk-austin-texas-university/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/mark-welsh-texas-am-president/Welsh served as interim president of the flagship university for a little over four months after the prior president resigned in the midst of a hiring scandal that drew national attention.By Kate McGeeTue, 12 Dec 2023 13:29:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/mark-welsh-texas-am-president/The Texas A&M University System approved Tuesday Gen. Mark A. Welsh III to become permanent president of the system's flagship university.Texas A&M interim president Ret. Gen. Mark A. Welsh III speaks with student leaders before addressing the senior class during Elephant Walk on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Aggie Park in College Station.Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/28/university-of-austin-pano-kanelos/UATX was launched by a group of higher education critics, including Kanelos, who believe universities have abandoned their commitment to open inquiry, free speech and civil discourse.By Kate McGeeTue, 28 Nov 2023 09:44:08 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/28/university-of-austin-pano-kanelos/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/17/tamu-mark-welsh-president-vote/The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents named the former dean and four-star general as the sole finalist for president Friday. Many believe Welsh is the right person to move the university forward after a pair of controversies bruised the school’s morale.By Kate McGeeFri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/17/tamu-mark-welsh-president-vote/Texas A&M interim President Mark A. Welsh III during Elephant Walk on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Aggie Park in College Station.Texas A&M interim President and Ret. Gen. Mark A. Welsh III during Elephant Walk on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Aggie Park in College Station.Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/14/collin-college-free-speech-lawsuit/The professor alleged the North Texas school violated his First Amendment rights when he advocated for the removal of Confederate statues and criticized the college’s COVID-19 plans. A jury disagreed.By Kate McGeeTue, 14 Nov 2023 11:14:51 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/14/collin-college-free-speech-lawsuit/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/13/mark-welsh-texas-a-m/A&M System Chancellor John Sharp will recommend Welsh, a retired Air Force general, as the sole finalist for the job at a Board of Regents meeting later this week. Welsh has held the position in the interim since July.By Kate McGeeMon, 13 Nov 2023 14:59:36 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/13/mark-welsh-texas-a-m/Mark A. Welsh III, interim president of Texas A&M University, speaks at a press conference in the Flag Room of the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus in College Station, on Aug. 2, 2023.Retired General Mark A. Welsh III, interim president of Texas A&M University, speaks at a press conference in the Flag Room of the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus in College Station, on Aug. 2, 2023.Courtesy of Meredith Seaver/The Eagle