Texas Governor Abbott Orders Admissions Probes

In the wake of the federal admissions-bribery scandal, the governor of Texas is ordering all public universities and colleges in the state to perform a careful examination of their admissions policies. 

Governor Greg Abbott on Monday sent a letter to all Texas regents on public university boards that ordered the investigation. 

“The Legislature has assigned important responsibilities to the governing boards of Texas’ institutions of higher education, including setting campus admissions standards,” Abbott wrote in the letter. “Every board must therefore closely examine and investigate its admissions policies and procedures to ensure that no university employee engages in fraudulent schemes, quid pro quo arrangements, or improprieties of any sort. Our universities — first and foremost — exist to serve qualifying students who graduate Texas high schools. Those students, their parents and taxpayers must have confidence that the system is not rigged.”

The letter comes after the U.S. Justice Department charged 44 people last week with crimes related to the admissions scandal, which saw Hollywood actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman charged for their parts in paying bribes to get their children into elite colleges.

According to Texas Monthly, four people in Texas are currently facing federal charges related to the scandal, including Michael Center, the former head coach of the men’s tennis team at the University of Texas at Austin; Niki Williams, a college entrance exam administrator employed by the Houston Independent School District; Martin Fox, a Houston resident and the president of a private tennis academy in Houston; and John Wilson, CEO of a Massachusetts private equity real estate and development firm.