September 15, 2011    

Samuel B. Scarpino    

Graduate students holding major fellowships and all postdoctoral fellows are now eligible for the University’s health benefits program, thanks to a bill passed in the Legislature last spring. These fellows are among our nation’s leading young scholars, bringing in millions of dollars to our universities, performing cutting-edge research and dramatically raising the caliber of higher education in Texas. The new law eliminates a significant hindrance to recruitment for Texas’ public universities.

September 9, 2011    

Sarah Kramer    

An American flag flew high between two fire trucks as University Park residents took a moment Friday to remember a tragic morning 10 years ago.

The service was the University Park Fire Department’s third annual observance of the Sept. 11 attacks, but this morning held specialsignificance with the 10th anniversary just days away.

September 9, 2011

Kate Gardner

University Park residents gathered for a small ceremony in front of the University Park Fire Department Friday morning to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Held for the third year in a row, the commemoration opened with a flag ceremony performed by the fire department's Honor Guard as well as a featured performance by the Color Guard.

Rep. Branch traveled to Midland and Odessa on September 8, 2011 to tour and speak with campus leaders and students at UT-Permian Basin, Midland College and Odessa College.  Rep. Branch was joined by Higher Education Committee member Rep. Tryon Lewis for part of the day.

The University Park Fire Department and Chief Randall Howell honored the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks with a remembrance ceremony on Friday, September 9, 2011.  Chief Howell welcomed Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) to share his thoughts and memories with the crowd, and to thank the City's first responders for their service.

Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) was the keynote speaker at the Baylor University Medical Center Quarterly Medical Staff Meeting in early September.  Branch gave a legislative update and fielded questions from the audience.  In addition, Branch met with Baylor Health Care System President and CEO Joel Allison, BHCS Chairman Albert Black, and BHCS VP of Government Affairs Kristi Sherrill Hoyl.

Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) visited Deep Ellum's newest pizza parlor, Il Cane Rosso in Early September. Branch visited with owner Jay Jerrier and other members of the restaurant staff, and also presented Mr. Jerrier with a resolution from the Texas House of Representatives. In addition, Rep. Branch enjoyed a slice of authentic Neapolitan pizza.

September 4, 2011    

Terrence Stutz and Chuck Carlton, The Dallas Morning News     

DALLAS — The Texas Legislature wants a say on any conference alignments that could endanger the Big 12.

Based on this past weekend, the lawmakers had better hurry. Momentum is now threatening to reach critical mass regarding a potential mass exit from the Big 12.

The Friday announcement by Oklahoma president David Boren that the Sooners were exploring their options was immediately followed by a similar announcement from Oklahoma State. Speculation immediately shifted to Texas and Texas Tech joining the group into the Pac-12, a deferred coup for commissioner Larry Scott.

September 6, 2011    

Reeve Hamilton    

The early results of the latest leg in a key fundraising race for Texas universities seeking tier one status are in — and the University of Texas at Dallas is in the lead. But there's still more than $1.2 million up for grabs this biennium.

In 2009, lawmakers approved a bill by state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, establishing an ambitious program to allow seven "emerging research universities" ( Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas, and University of Texas campuses in Dallas, Arlington, San Antonio and El Paso) to compete for extra infusions of cash, with an eye toward increasing the number of public national research universities in Texas (currently, the state can only claim the University of Texas and Texas A&M University).

September 1, 2011    

Reeve Hamilton    

With state funding on the decline, institutions of higher education in Texas must increasingly look to outside sources for help tackling problems such as low graduation rates. This week, Complete College America, a national nonprofit focused on boosting higher education success, announced a million-dollar grant to help Texas handle students who show up to college ill-prepared.

Currently, 48 percent of students in Texas community colleges require some help to get up to speed. When it comes to math, 38 percent of those enrolling in community college do not meet readiness standards. Traditionally, such students have been put in remedial courses until they're ready to move on to college-level work. For many, this proves an insurmountable roadblock on their journey through the higher education pipeline. Stan Jones, president of the nonprofit group, puts it more bluntly: "There's been research done that essentially says remediation doesn't work."