The Board of Regents is lifting the income threshold to expand eligibility across all nine of its UT System campuses.

The current threshold is 6%. The change comes after the university received a record-breaking 73,000 undergraduate applications for this fall.

After a Rice University student was found dead in her dorm room in an apparent murder-suicide, the topic of domestic violence on college campuses is at the forefront of discussions.

The new policy says universities should remain neutral on “issues of the day” while allowing students, faculty and staff to express their ideas.

Some students were relieved they were offered a type of academic probation that would allow them to remain in classes.

The arrests were the result of the second police crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at UT-Austin. The first protest, on April 24, resulted in 57 arrests, which were also dismissed.

Keller, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since 2019, takes office on Aug. 1.

Some Jewish students see the protests as inherently antisemitic. Others say Jewish history and values make them empathize with Palestinians.

Tuesday’s Texas Senate hearing comes as lawmakers are expected to propose new laws next year to enforce the DEI ban and prevent antisemitism.

The lecturer’s lawyer disputes the charges, and the university’s decision to fire him has raised concerns from faculty over free speech protections.

An American Civil Liberties Union of Texas attorney and a UT-Austin professor discussed how free speech has been protected and challenged in campus protests, and what we should all learn from the last few weeks.

Hartzell’s protest response has also resulted in condemnations from students and faculty.

The arrests mark the second time in less than a week that police have broken up a pro-Palestinian demonstration. This time protesters tried to set up an encampment on campus.

According to news sources, protestors have since defied the 1 p.m. deadline to end the protest.

University officials banned all students arrested from campus, except for “academic reasons.”

President Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested.

As administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.

Texas' ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education has resulted in more than 100 job cuts at University of Texas campuses across the state.

The firings come after state leaders criticized universities for not doing enough to enforce the ban. Students say UT-Austin has already overcorrected.

The decision comes after the university switched to test-optional admissions during the pandemic.

The new state law prohibits public universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Students say schools are overcorrecting.

Administrators are weighing possible disciplinary action against four students who criticized the university’s response to the Middle East conflict.

The sum is part of a larger philanthropic campaign to raise $6 billion for the flagship university in Austin.

If approved, the new fund would provide tens of millions of dollars to the University of Houston, Texas Tech, Texas State University and University of North Texas.

Payments resumed this month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan is unconstitutional. For many, the pause meant the difference between saving and making ends meet.

Fellows play key roles in the most important work of the Tribune, helping with The Texas Tribune Festival and covering the biennial legislative sessions, education and the environment, among other important topics.

The attorney general’s fellow Republicans were about evenly split in their approval and disapproval, the University of Texas poll determined.

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.

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.

Demand for on-campus housing has gone up across the country as off-campus costs have skyrocketed and students seek more affordable options.

A research team at the University of Texas at Austin’s PsyBrain Lab announce the new FDA approved laboratory blood test for traumatic brain injury in the United States.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has filed legislation that would establish The Civitas School of Civic and International Leadership as a formal college at the University of Texas at Austin.

On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with higher education reporter Kate McGee about Texas leaders’ push to limit the role of diversity in hiring on college campuses.

The businessman gave huge donations to the University of Texas at Austin and is credited with bringing the San Antonio Spurs basketball team to the Alamo City.

The nonbinding referendum is meant to gauge student opinion on the divisive alma mater but would not result in any changes to the song. Student leaders called for it in response to a 2021 university report on the song’s history that found it was “not overtly racist.”

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Michael Webber and environment reporter Erin Douglas about the state’s widespread power outages.

Several Houston area universities are joining the growing list of higher education institutes who are either limiting or fully restricting students, staff, and visitors from using Tik-Tok through its campus WiFi network.

Students and faculty will not be able to access the popular social media app while connected to university internet servers. It’s the latest step to limit access to the service after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to ban the app on government-issued devices citing cybersecurity risks.

Beard was hired by UT in 2021. The university paid $4 million to buy out his contract at Texas Tech University. He was one of UT’s highest-paid employees.

The research teams are expected to focus on traumatic brain injury, stem cell research, drug development and anti-shock therapies.

When the Supreme Court takes up the issue of affirmative action again Monday, it'll be for the second time in six years.

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.

While the risk of exposure to monkeypox remains low, health experts say college students living in close proximity to each other could spur outbreaks. They encourage schools to share their plans and relevant information about the virus.

It’s unclear whether Texas’ tangled web of abortion laws would make it a crime to pay for a Texan to leave the state to get an abortion, but the threat has compelled the funds to cease services.

The University of Texas at Austin selected Justin Dyer to run The Civitas Institute, formerly referred to as the Liberty Institute. The center raised concerns among faculty after The Texas Tribune reported UT-Austin worked with conservative donors and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to bring the institute to the flagship UT campus.

Emails obtained via an open records request show two professors who helped develop the new center believe UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell backed off a plan to bring “intellectual diversity” to campus.

The two-year pilot program comes after at least 15 years of students asking for the change. It will allow UT-Austin students to live together in certain residence halls with students of any gender or sexual identity.

A jury awarded Evdokia Nikolova damages for past and future pain and suffering after finding UT-Austin illegally discriminated against her when the school denied her tenure.

About $1 billion will go toward to support students, as the cost of living in Austin skyrockets.

First Liberty Institute, a Plano-based religious freedom legal group, has a registered trademark for the name and said it has alerted UT-Austin that it objects to them using it.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to revoke tenure for professors teaching lessons about race that he disagrees with. It’s a new chapter of an old fight between academics and populist politicians.

Patrick’s suggestion to end tenure at public universities received swift criticism from faculty and higher education experts who said it would negatively impact the reputation of Texas’ colleges and universities.

Patrick’s declarations come days after the UT-Austin Faculty Council approved a measure reaffirming instructors’ right to teach about racial justice and critical race theory in the classroom.

She moves from the Tribune’s editorial team to our audience team, where she will take charge of our flagship email newsletter, The Brief.

As Texas universities and colleges begin a fifth semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, many students say they are struggling with uncertainty and an indifference toward school and the future.

More than a dozen amazing students from Texas and around the country will work with us this semester in various areas of our newsroom.

The university's mission is to create a “fiercely independent” school that offers an alternative to what founders see as a rise in “illiberalism” on college campuses.

UTRGV’s decision to offer free tuition to more students comes after more students’ families lost jobs during the pandemic.

A University of Texas at Austin student who planned to apply to an Obama-era initiative for immigrants who came to America as children is stuck in limbo after a Texas judge halted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The complaint signals a continued desire among some UT-Austin students and alumni to push administrators to discontinue using the song as the university’s alma mater, despite the university’s insistence that it will remain.

Texas public universities forbidden from mandating vaccines are trying to entice students and faculty to get the shot. Those moves come as more people ages 18 to 29 years old in Texas are being hospitalized with the virus.

More than a dozen amazing students will work with us this semester from Texas and across the globe in various areas of our newsroom.

The Houston area was well represented at the Tokyo Olympics and contributed plenty to America's effort atop the overall medal count.

The news comes after the SEC voted to invite UT and the University of Oklahoma to join its 14-member league during a meeting with the league members’ presidents and chancellors Thursday afternoon.

The judge found that the group behind the suit had essentially brought the same claims in a previous case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s policy.

The university is seeking to leave the Big 12 along with the University of Oklahoma, a move that would have wide-ranging impact on Texas college athletics.

Next fall, the University of Texas at Austin students who play on the football team or watch in the stands can choose whether to sing the “The Eyes of Texas” at the end of the game.

In October, UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell announced a committee of current and former athletes, historians, professors and students to chronicle the history of "The Eyes of Texas." AdLast month, the Tribune reported that dozens of UT-Austin donors threatened to pull funds if the university got rid of the song, which has been the subject of student protests. A recent report commissioned by President Jay Hartzell determined the song was not “overtly racist,” though it was written in a racist setting. McCoy and Brigham were part of a large group email of Longhorns donors and fans who discussed the controversy among themselves on June 29. AdThe latest emails from UT-Austin also included more examples of direct threats from donors over the song.

“It’s humiliating to be required to sit for the song or be in the presence,” said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. Students have also called on the school to stop playing the song from the bell tower. In his report, Alberto Martinez provided documentation linking the phrase “The Eyes of Texas” to a statement made in reference to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. This complicates its understanding and explains how different people experienced the song in vastly different ways.”A UT-Austin spokesperson said the university stands behind its report. AdOn Monday, a UT-Austin band member said said the implications of protesting the song were unclear for students.

Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Feb 13, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. On this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Ross, Cassi and Kate about the Texas Legislature's move to limit Gov. Greg Abbott's power during a pandemic. They also discuss the University of Texas at Austin's report on "The Eyes of Texas." Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The University of Texas at Austin on Tuesday released the findings of a report — months in the making — exploring the history of its alma mater song, "The Eyes of Texas." Over the summer, students protested and petitioned the university to rid the campus of the song, which has ties to minstrel shows. Officials said the song would stay, but announced a 24-member committee that would look into the song's history. Last week, The Texas Tribune reported that hundreds of alumni and donors wrote UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell over the summer and fall demanding he keep the song. Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

A student is suing The University of Texas at Austin and its regents in a class-action lawsuit, calling the online education options offered during the start of the pandemic inferior and “drastically different” from typical in-person instruction. The suit is seeking compensation for the named plaintiff, Anissa Reyes, and any other students who paid their tuition expecting an “in-person, hands-on education” but had their classes moved online in spring 2020. The suit asks for a prorated refund proportional to the time spent online as a result of the pandemic. UT-Austin had over 51,000 students enrolled at the start of the 2019-20 academic year, including students who already took online-only classes. AdAttorneys filed a class-action lawsuit in January against Rice University, seeking damages for students whose classes were disrupted in the spring.

(TEXAS TRIBUNE) – Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? The University of Texas at Austin is suspending the SAT and ACT test score requirement for fall 2022 applicants, citing continued limited access to testing opportunities for students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AdLast year, multiple Texas universities temporarily scrapped the testing requirement for the 2021 applicants, including Texas A&M University, Baylor University, Texas Tech University, Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. In Austin, St. Edward's University had been planning to permanently waive ACT and SAT requirements for months, Dean of Admissions Drew Nichols told The Texas Tribune last spring. AdDisclosure: Baylor University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, St. Edward’s University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune. (Audio unavailable. Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Sarkisian, who was hired Jan. 2, will make $5.2 million in his first year as coach and is guaranteed a $200,000 raise each year. He will additionally receive a one-time payment of $1.2 million if he is still head coach on December 31, 2024. Sarkisian’s starting salary is over $5 million more than former head coach Tom Herman and $10 million more than former head coach Charlie Strong, according to the Dallas Morning News. AdThe University is still paying Herman $15 million over the next three years as part of his termination contract. Before that he was head coach for the University of Washington and the University of Southern California.

The flagship university is keeping most classes online through January as coronavirus infections soar in Travis County. The University of Texas at Austin is shifting more spring semester classes completely online through the end of January as COVID-19 cases continue to ravage the city and state. When UT-Austin shifted entirely online the week of Thanksgiving, average daily cases hovered around 240 in Travis County. Texas A&M University is also requiring students who live on campus to get tested within the first week of classes, on or before Jan 22. Disclosure: Rice University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The University of Texas at Austin's final football game of the regular season against the University of Kansas was cancelled after a COVID-19 outbreak infected nine players and 13 staff members. The University of Texas at Austin’s final football game of the regular season against the University of Kansas has been canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak infecting nine players and 13 staff members. The UT game against Kansas had already been rescheduled due to an outbreak on the Kansas team last month. It’s the only game Texas did not play this fall amid the pandemic. Disclosure: Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

President of the University of Texas at Austin Jay Hartzell. The new president at the University of Texas at Austin is poised to make $1.25 million a year, a jump of $350,000 or 40% more than his predecessor, Greg Fenves. Fenves originally turned down a $1 million salary when offered the top job at UT-Austin in 2015. In June, the board approved an annual salary of $795,000 for Hartzell as interim president. The $1.25 million salary is “all-inclusive,” and he will not receive additional stipends for housing, an automobile or cell phone.

Shortly after, they plan on visiting their family for Thanksgiving in North Texas. The two university students are halfway through a 14-day quarantine that their mother required of them before they could join the rest of the family back home in North Texas for Thanksgiving. Officials at UT-Austin and elsewhere in Texas say they are relying on students to voluntarily comply with safety measures. In another letter to students Friday, officials encouraged students to develop a safe travel plan and get a flu shot. “Then, we’re quarantining again to go home for Christmas.”Disclosure: Baylor University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The Daily Texan reported that a message sent to band members by leader Scott Hanna said the survey results wouldn’t affect whether the band performs at future games. Band members are “evenly divided” overplaying the song, the student newspaper reported, but responses from certain instrument sections would prevent the band from playing this week. The message from Hanna said many band members wanted to have further discussions about the song, which he said he would facilitate. Only then can we reimagine its future.”Removing “The Eyes of Texas” song was not the student’s only demand this past summer. Disclosure: Baylor University, Texas Christian University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Antigen tests — typically nasal or saliva tests that can detect proteins on the outside of the virus — are more prone to giving false negative results than other coronavirus tests that use genetic material. Rapid testing is gaining traction nationwide, with one manufacturer planning to ship 50 million tests across the country each month. He said rapid testing could restore the feeling of security needed for a true economic rebound. DSHS reported Wednesday 748,967 total confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 6,237,157 tests and 10,266 positive antigen tests out of 99,412. Disclosure: Texas Association of Business, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

That’s compared to 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students, including larger metropolitan areas like Houston and Dallas that also house universities. The Texas counties where university students make up the biggest share of the population are home to Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Sul Ross State University, Sam Houston State University, and several A&M campuses, including the flagship in College Station, Tarleton State University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University-Commerce. Since Aug. 1, Texas Tech has logged more than 1,400 cases of COVID-19, including at least 1,266 among students. “It’s not about me,” Cook said, in a mantra he has repeated to college students. Disclosure: Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University System, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas System, University of Texas at El Paso and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas TribuneIf you would like to listen to the column, just click on the play button below. If you want to know what’s happening with business reopenings during the pandemic in Texas, watch your local hospital. Instead of concentrating on the spread of the virus, the state is now concentrating on the severity of the spread. Whether and how much those reopenings have sped the spread of the coronavirus is still not clear. Hospitalization rates will tell you what share of the people in Texas hospitals — by district — are coronavirus patients.

A University of Texas football game at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 7, 2019. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Daily TexanNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? There is no testing requirement for fans who aren't UT-Austin students, nor is there a requirement for visitors from El Paso. Students, however, were not required to test negative before returning to campus or attending in-person classes. Greg Abbott, however, allowed Texas sports to resume with limited fans in the stands. Disclosure: Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at El Paso have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Students sit outside the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center at the University of Texas at Austin. As Texas college towns see rising COVID-19 cases with the return of hundreds of thousands of students to campus, a small but increasing number of universities are disciplining students who attend or host house parties or Greek rush events. But while reports of those crackdowns are beginning to increase, most Texas universities arent penalizing individual students for partying that takes place off-site. Many of the Greek events have since been halted, he said, but the off-campus parties continue. Penalize organizations, not peoplePerhaps the most power that Texas universities can wield over off-campus student behavior comes through its recognized organizations, from sororities to student government and beyond.

Public health experts say Texas universities should increase testing of all students to prevent community spread of the coronavirus as classes resume. Texas A&M University reported 327 new positive tests the week ending Aug. 29, down slightly from the 371 it reported a week prior. UT-Austin, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University encourage participation in asymptomatic testing but stop short of requiring it. Texas Christian University does not offer routine testing for students without symptoms, according to The Dallas Morning News. Disclosure: Baylor University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The Texas Tribune spoke to epidemiologists and health experts about what the state can expect with schools and universities resuming online or in-person instruction. Dr. Ron Cook, professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the city of Lubbocks public health authority: I think were all holding our breath on what opening schools and opening colleges and universities is going to do. I don't think it was any one of those things that caused the second surge that we saw they likely all contributed to a degree. I don't think we can adopt an attitude that the calvary is going to ride in to rescue us I don't think a vaccine will emerge and suddenly the virus vanishes. Disclosure: Texas Tech University, UTHealth, the University of North Texas, and Texas A&M 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 corporate sponsors.

HOUSTON Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker has been inducted into the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor, according to an announcement from the university. Congratulations to our latest inductees into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor! https://t.co/5BxNdzgEat pic.twitter.com/Vxuad3K87u Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 26, 2020Tucker played for the Longhorns from 2003-2006, averaging 13.4 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Longhorns. Tucker signed a 4-year, $32 million contract with the Houston Rockets in 2017, and has started 32 playoff games for Houston.

Heres where some of the biggest Texas conference schools stand. Many athletics officials initially seized on that number, including University of Texas at Austin Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. At Texas Tech University, officials are capping stadium capacity at 25%. The Big 12 Conference which includes Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech and the No. Disclosure: Texas A&M, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Many of these protestors have united around the rallying cry of defund the police; still, others have embraced the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement. With the 2020 election fast approaching, The Texas Tribune invited Texans of the civil rights and the Black Lives Matter eras to share their perspectives on voting. After wanting to see a change in their affluent, mainly white neighborhoods, they began organizing protests and rallies to bring the issues of Black Lives Matter to their neighbors front steps. Currently, Woods is a leader of Black Lives Matter Houston and has been a part of that organization since 2013. He currently works with Black Lives Matter Houston and has been organizing with the group for years.

University of Texas at Austin Interim President Jay Hartzell has been named sole finalist for president. The University of Texas System's Board of Regents unanimously named Jay Hartzell the sole finalist for president of its flagship university on Tuesday. Hartzell, former dean of the University of Texas at Austins business school, was named interim president in April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down. Eltife will appoint a committee to offer advice and evaluation on the sole finalist. The Board of Regents approved an annual salary of $795,000 in June for Hartzell as interim president.

Texas five major conference football teams Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Austin are massive economic drivers for their cities of Waco, Fort Worth, College Station, Lubbock and Austin, respectively, generating a flood of seasonal business for hotels, restaurants and bars in a typical year. Across Texas, university leaders have supported allowing football to move forward if conference division leaders allow it. We want to play football in the fall, said Texas A&M System John Sharp in a statement to The Texas Tribune on Monday. For college towns, its like losing Christmas, Berg said. Disclosure: Baylor University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Baylor UniversityBaylor is still planning to begin its fall semester on August 24th with strict guidelines in place, and is planning to end the fall semester the first week of December, which is a couple of weeks earlier than usual. Houston Community CollegeHouston Community Colleges fall semester will begin August 24th, but all classes will meet remotely for the first six weeks. Southern Methodist UniversitySMU has outlined its plan for maintaining a healthy environment with its Mustang Strong: Safe Return to Campus guide. Texas Southern UniversityAccording to Texas Southerns COVID-19 guide, classes will begin on August 19th online and continue that way through at least September 14th. Texas State UniversityLike the University of Texas, Texas State is also asking its students to quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus.

An aerial view of the main tower at the University of Texas at Austin during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020. The University of Texas reported a total of 472 COVID-19 cases among students, faculty and staff as of Thursday. The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. The university can test hundreds of symptomatic students using in-house labs and has three rapid testing machines that can provide results in 15 minutes. The University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at El Paso will also provide free on-campus testing.

Many athletics officials seized on that number, including UT-Austin Athletics Director Chris Del Conte as recently as last week. At Texas Tech University, officials are also looking at capping stadium capacity at 25%. The Texas Tech athletics department is projecting a loss of $14.1 million from interrupted ticket sales and other pandemic-related expenses, athletics director Kirby Horcutt has said. The Big 12 Conference which includes Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech and the No. Disclosure: Texas A&M, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

While some universities nationwide and in Texas are still refusing to disclose cases, UT-Austin set up a digital dashboard allowing community members to see updated student, faculty and staff cases. Regardless of how other universities choose to approach these numbers, UT-Austin will do what's best for public health and the health of its community, he said. One of the largest outbreaks came from a spring break trip to Mexico in March, which resulted in dozens of UT students testing positive for COVID-19. On Wednesday, interim President Jay Hartzell announced that students returning to Austin will need to self-isolate for 14 days after coming to campus. Its health service site lists a COVID-19 nasal swab test at $88 and a blood test for COVID-19 antibodies at $53.

The statue of George Washington outside the University of Texas at Austin Main Building on July 16, 2020. The group, Students for Fair Admissions, is a nonprofit of "more than 20,000 students, parents and others" who believe that racial classifications and preferences in college admissions are "unfair, unnecessary, and unconstitutional," according to the group's website. In 2018, about 75 percent of UT-Austin students received automatic admission to the school through the Top 10 Percent Rule, a state law that offers admission to Texas students near the top of their high school class. The university has factored race and ethnicity into its admissions decisions for the remaining applicants since 2003, when a different U.S. Supreme Court ruling declared race-based affirmative action constitutional. "The university is reviewing the new lawsuit from (Students for Fair Admissions)," said J.B. Bird, a UT-Austin spokesperson, in a statement.