Editor’s note: Welcome to On Campus: A roundup of what’s new and notable across Tarrant County’s colleges and universities.
Fran Johnson is the new head football coach at Texas Wesleyan University after serving five seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator, school officials announced Tuesday.
He takes over the role from Brad Sherrod, who was named head coach at Morehouse College last month.
Johnson’s promotion offers continuity and maintains momentum in the growing program, university President Emily Messer said in a news release.
“Coach Fran Johnson represents the leadership, discipline and vision that reflect the spirit of Texas Wesleyan,” Messer said. “He is known as a leader who embodies our core values of connection, commitment, compassion and courage.”
Under Johnson’s leadership in 2024, the Rams averaged 57.5 points per game, more than any other team in either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or National Collegiate Athletic Association, the release highlighted.
Johnson will lead the team as the private university seeks admission to NCAA Division II play.
$500K gift creates hospitality professorship at UTA
University of Texas at Arlington’s Hospitality Management program announced its first endowed academic position Monday, named the Roland G. Parrish Endowed Professorship in Hospitality Management.
Parrish, a philanthropist who was recognized as the second-largest African American McDonald’s franchisee in the country, endowed the position with a $500,000 donation. The hospitality program started in fall 2025 and prepares students for careers in the restaurant, hotel or tourism industries.
The funds will support the recruitment of an expert who will drive academic excellence and industry impact, according to a news release.
“This professorship empowers us to bring in top talent, forge partnerships and drive innovation in a sector vital to our region’s economic growth,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said in the release.
U.S. Department of Education seeks feedback on Workforce Pell regulations
Federal officials want comments about proposed regulations for the Workforce Pell Grant program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Pell Grants are a form of federal financial aid for students from low-income families that do not need to be paid back.
Before July, students needed to be enrolled in programs that lasted at least 16 weeks to receive the grant. Now, they can be eligible if enrolled in shorter programs that lead to careers in high-skill, high-wage or in-demand fields.
Proposed regulations include requiring state governments to determine which programs qualify as leading to high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs.
The draft regulations were published in the federal register, the daily record of government operations, on March 9.
Members of the public, organizations, companies and government agencies can provide comments until April 8 that will be considered by the Education Department.
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
The Report’s higher education coverage is supported in part by major higher education institutions in Tarrant County, including Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington and UNT Health Science Center. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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