Collin College

The American Association of University Professors is looking into allegations that Collin College professors were dismissed for speaking up about COVID safety issues, among other comments.

The incumbents in the races for the Collin College Board of Trustees back school president Neil Matkin, who is facing a backlash for terminating several professors.

There have been dozens of conflicts across the state tied to public safety protocols. At Collin College, three professors spoke out about the school’s handling of the coronavirus and now they’re fighting to keep their jobs.

History professor L.D. Burnett was told via email her contract would not be renewed.

The two long-time female professors say they were also dismissed because they're officers of the school's Texas Faculty Association chapter. The college said it respects the instructors' privacy and cannot comment on personnel issues.

Collin College will cease in-person classes until after the new year. And for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the college of 35,000 mostly-commuter students is also posting an online COVID-19 dashboard.

The college released COVID-19 numbers from August through October on Wednesday, Nov. 11. in response to a public records request.

The lack of transparency about coronavirus cases in this North Texas community college system is causing concern among some faculty and students.

An adult student caught COVID-19 in September, soon got pneumonia, then died from a heart attack Oct. 2, according to his family.

A professor’s social media posts about Vice President Mike Pence led the college president to issue a letter, calling the posts “hateful, vile and ill-considered.”

Texas is facing shortages in the workforce in fields like nursing and education. One solution: Lawmakers passed a bill this session allowing community…