Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is scheduled to discuss higher education in Fort Worth and how the state's universities may be affected in the 2013 legislative session.
Dewhurst is to speak at the Higher Education Thought Leaders Forum at Texas Christian University on Thursday.
State lawmakers in 2011 cut nearly $1 billion from higher education spending, and schools now face calls to make their degree programs more affordable. Gov. Rick Perry has called on universities to offer students locked-in four-year tuition rates.
Texas lawmakers also may consider capping the amount that students can receive from TEXAS Grants to pay only for tuition, fees and books. Some officials have suggested that could help more students receive aid. The grants are the state's primary financial aid program for poor students.
