Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, who formerly served as president at Prairie View A&M University, is slated to speak at this year’s commencement, despite resigning from the university last month.

Human Rights Watch says China’s government and its supporters have monitored, harassed and intimidated pro-democracy Chinese students living in Australia.

By Jan. 1, the task force reported a total 57,555 deaths. Russian officials ascribe that to different counting methods, saying the task force only includes deaths where COVID-19 was the main cause. December accounted for the highest number of Russian deaths since April — 44,435, according to Rosstat. AdRosstat’s count is much higher than the 77,068 deaths that have been reported by the Russian government’s coronavirus task force so far, including deaths that occurred in January and February. The Kremlin credited the government's response measures for Russia’s low COVID-19 mortality, and experts cited the way Russia counts virus deaths as one of the reasons behind the relatively low reported number of virus deaths.

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.

HOUSTON – During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities, across the country and in the Houston-area, have been forced to pivot and innovate to the likes of which they’ve never experienced before. Despite the challenges, two Houston-area universities have managed to do that and the results are reflected in the university’s enrollment numbers. The University of Houston and Houston Baptist University announced Tuesday that both universities are seeing record enrollment during the pandemic. HBU saw it’s highest total enrollment in university history for the eighth consecutive year with about 4,000 students. Some HBU students believe the upward trend in enrollment will continue because the university is providing more and more opportunities.

Her daughter Hilary is a senior at Glenda Dawson High School in the Pearland Independent School District. He’s a senior at Strake Jesuit High School and says the “new normal” is anything but. Financial aidProjectGRAD Houston is a free resource for parents and students which helps them with college and career prep. Check and update your college listDue to COVID-19, many colleges and universities have made changes to their admissions deadlines and important dates. The experts suggest that you need to make sure you’re informed about the school’s most up-to-date deadlines and information.

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.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Are students locked into their housing contracts if classes go virtual due to COVID-19? Some Texas universities are waiving fees and requirements for students who chose remote learning or return home before their residential contracts expire. Students can have their cancellation fees waived if they choose to take their classes remotely. However, the University of Houston students who choose a spring-only housing option after cancelling fall housing will need to pay another $50 application fee, but do not need to pay the $300 prepayment.