Who got "edged out"?
UT Austin announced this week that it was further tightening an already competitive admissions process, cutting off automatic admission to the top six percent of Texas public high school students. The change is in response to increased demand for entry into the institution – applications have increased from 38,000 in 2013 to 51,000 in 2017. “Under state law, at least 75 percent of the first-year, in-state students at the Austin flagship must be automatically admitted. UT sets the percentage annually to meet that requirement. The remaining applicants, including those from other states and abroad, are considered under a so-called holistic review that takes race, ethnicity, grades, essays, leadership qualities and numerous other factors into account.”
Continue Reading"Texans are a Tough Breed"
President Trump’s move this week to end DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – drew swift responses from every major university leader in Texas. Many of them were party to a statement last year that urged Congress to uphold and continue DACA.
Continue ReadingWeekly Roundup: Harvey Edition
Texas universities have been on the front lines of Hurricane Harvey in many different ways since the storm hit. Some schools, like The University of Houston and UT’s Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, found themselves in the eye of the storm, bruised and battered, but unbroken. Other institutions, while dealing with displaced students and faculty, were helping through their research, innovation and technological advances. Consider the Texas A&M scientist who was on Good Morning America, to highlight the findings of tests he conducted on floodwater. “We saw elevated levels of E. coli,” Dr. Gentry told Good Morning America. “And this indicates the very likely presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other types of organisms that could cause disease in some individuals.”
Continue ReadingA Thumbs Up
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. You can help those affected by visiting www.RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Or, visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org or text STORM to 51555.
On Wednesday, the Texas A&M System Board of Directors gave a thumbs up to extending Chancellor John Sharp’s contract. “From day one he has been a bold, innovative, visionary leader and he has really made a difference for the A&M System,” said Regent Phil Adams. The move paves the way for the board’s chairman to negotiate and finalize a deal with Sharp, which is expected to stay consistent with his current salary of $900,000 – $1.3 million with benefits.
"Vigorous Debate and Peaceful Dissent"
The Special Session of the Texas Legislature “ground to a halt” this week a day earlier than expected. Referring to the session as “30 days of discontent,” an article in The Economist recapped the session in which only a handful of the governor’s 20 priorities for the session were passed. One State Representative, Republican Chris Paddie, characterized it this way: “The problem continues to be that politics rather than policy is driving the bus.” With the session wrapped up, members are back on the campaign trail, raising money and stumping for the 2018 election.
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Latest Updates
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Who got "edged out"?
UT Austin announced this week that it was further tightening an already competitive admissions process, cutting off automatic admission to the top six percent of Texas public high school students. The change is in response to increased demand for entry into the institution – applications have increased from 38,000 in 2013 to 51,000 in 2017. “Under state law, at least 75 percent of the first-year, in-state students at the Austin flagship must be automatically admitted. UT sets the percentage annually to meet that requirement. The remaining applicants, including those from other states and abroad, are considered under a so-called holistic review that takes race, ethnicity, grades, essays, leadership qualities and numerous other factors into account.”
Continue reading -
"Texans are a Tough Breed"
President Trump’s move this week to end DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – drew swift responses from every major university leader in Texas. Many of them were party to a statement last year that urged Congress to uphold and continue DACA.
Continue reading