PUBLIC SAFETY & IMMIGRATION
LOOKING BACK:
Multiple federal and state policy changes mandated University compliance with immigration enforcement operations, prompting city leaders, student advocates and campus organizations to respond in support. Over 170 international students across the UT System experienced revocations of their visas or changes in their immigration status, including multiple at UT Austin.
LOOKING FORWARD:
The Trump administration continues investigating international students who participated in pro-Palestine protests as grounds for potential visa revocation. As of April 22, several federal agencies have not publicly released the reports mandated in a January executive order on how higher education institutions could monitor the activities of non-citizen students and staff, prompting investigations if necessary.
CITY & LEGE
LOOKING BACK:
Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State address in February, detailing his priorities for the Texas Legislature. Over the session, the Legislature has tried to fulfill all of these policy areas but it has struggled to pass legislation so far.
LOOKING FORWARD:
The Legislature is considering Senate Bill 37 and Senate Bill 326, which would change how curriculum and degree programs are evaluated and how schools should evaluate antisemitism in disciplinary proceedings. Before Abbott can sign the bills, the Texas House of Representatives must pass them.
CITY & METRO
LOOKING BACK:
The Austin City Council amended parking codes during a Feb. 13 meeting, prohibiting cars from parking in bike lanes with the hopes of improving bicyclist safety.
LOOKING FORWARD:
The Austin Transit Partnership released a Jan. 10 report proposing a redesign of Guadalupe Street by adding pedestrian and transit corridors as part of Project Connect, which is a city effort to construct a light rail beginning in 2027.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
LOOKING BACK:
The 2024-25 Student Government executive board attended the Southeastern Conference in D.C. for the first time, where they advocated for higher education policies. 2024-25 SG President Grace Kelly and Vice President Elle Grinnell looked back at their time in office, including the establishment of town halls and distribution of an online newsletter.
LOOKING FORWARD:
The University of Texas System signed a contract implementing mandatory mental health training for new students starting in the fall as part of an initiative led by Kelly and Grinnell. Hudson Thomas and Thierry Chu, who won the 2025-26 SG election after the Office of the Dean of Students overturned their disqualification, introduced new legislation at the end of the semester.
CAMPUS & STUDENT LIFE
LOOKING BACK:
The Trump administration’s cuts on federal funds and hiring freezes created an environment of uncertainty in university research, including slashing National Institutes of Health funds provided to researchers for administrative costs and cancelling internship opportunities at the Centers of Disease Control and NIH.
LOOKING FORWARD:
After removing the flag graduation requirements in April, the University is planning to implement a new system called the “Comprehensive Learner’s Record” in fall 2026 to highlight student’s skills for future employment instead of being a graduation requirement.
CAMPUS & STUDENT LIFE
LOOKING BACK:
The Trump administration signed an executive order on March 14 cutting funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which funds grants across the University.
LOOKING FORWARD:
The Austin City Council approved an increase on March 27 of up to $157,500 over a one-year period to provide services and grants to university food pantries such as the UT Outpost.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article stated that the University will implement the “Comprehensive Learner’s Record” system in fall 2025 as opposed to fall 2026. The Texan regrets this error.
