higher education

The Select Committees on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were formed days after Kirk's assassination on a Utah college campus. Members assembled Thursday in Austin for their first meeting to assess state free speech laws.

Some students and professors say recent changes and scandals chill speech at universities. Others argue that conservative opinions can now be shared more freely.

The new law, called the "Campus Protection Act," requires student groups to get the university's permission before inviting guest speakers to campus, among other restrictions. Students have raised concerns that these changes limit their free speech.

A Texas State spokesperson said Monday evening that the professor's employment had been "terminated, effective immediately" after a university review.

According to a TPR analysis, colleges in San Antonio lost nearly $10M because the U.S. Department of Education withheld grants to Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Thomas Alter is the second professor in the state to be terminated this week for allegedly violating university policy after a video was posted on social media.

Professors' concerns included the state's DEI ban and new limits to faculty influence at colleges and universities.

An enrollment drop could cost the Texas economy hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the reports.

Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court decided Tuesday the state's law banning certain discussions on race and sex does not apply to college and university classrooms.