Texas A&M University Implements New Policy on Race and Gender Discussions
Texas A&M University has announced it will shut down its women's and gender studies program, revise the syllabuses of hundreds of courses, and cancel six classes under a new policy that restricts how faculty can address topics related to race and gender. University officials made the announcement on Friday, following months of internal review and campus tension. The decision comes after a video of a student confronting an instructor over lessons on gender identity went viral last year, drawing national attention to classroom instruction at one of the largest public universities in the United States.
University Assurances on Limited Academic Impact
University leaders have emphasized that the impact of these changes will be limited and will not delay students' progress toward graduation. According to the university, the six canceled courses represent approximately 0.11% of the 5,400 courses offered this semester. Interim president Tommy Williams stated in a news release, "Strong oversight and standards protect academic integrity and restore public trust, guaranteeing that a degree from Texas A&M means something to our students and the people who will hire them." He added that this focus has been central throughout the process and will continue moving forward.
Faculty and Student Protests Raise Academic Freedom Concerns
Despite university assurances, faculty members and students have raised significant concerns that the policy restricts academic freedom. Hundreds gathered on campus on Thursday evening to protest the changes. Leonard Bright, president of the American Association of University Professors A&M chapter, expressed his dismay, telling the Associated Press, "They have reduced this marketplace of ideas to now emphasizing or promoting a certain view when it comes to race, gender, and sexuality. That view is erasing the experiences of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community."
A System-Wide Review of Courses and Exemptions
The announcement follows the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents' approval of the policy in November, which prompted a university-wide review of course content. Faculty were permitted to request exemptions for courses flagged under the policy. Of the 54 courses sent to Williams for review, 48 were granted exceptions. The canceled courses were spread across multiple colleges, including:
- The Bush School of Government and Public Service
- The College of Arts and Sciences
- The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- The College of Education and Human Development
Why the Women's and Gender Studies Programme Was Ended
University officials cited low enrollment as a partial reason for ending the women's and gender studies program. Williams declined to make himself available for media interviews, but in a January 12 statement, he acknowledged unease on campus over the changes while reiterating the university's responsibility to focus on students.
A First-of-Its-Kind Policy in Texas Public Universities
This policy appears to mark the first time a public university system in Texas has formally set limits on what faculty can discuss in classrooms regarding race and gender topics. Other university systems in the state have also begun reviewing course offerings following the passage of a new state law. Bright, whose graduate-level ethics course was canceled, noted that faculty members have started censoring themselves out of fear. He said, "They sent out a chilling message to the faculty that people were going to be fired for teaching topics some conservatives disagree with."
Classroom Restrictions and Disputed Boundaries
At Thursday's protest, philosophy professor Martin Peterson claimed the policy had restricted his ability to teach certain texts by Plato, though university officials have clarified that Plato is not banned. The policy changes follow the September firing of Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer in the English department, after a video circulated showing her arguing with a student over gender identity in a children's literature class. Her dismissal came after political pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Soon after McCoul's termination, then university president Mark A. Welsh III resigned.
Support from Conservative Lawmakers
Republican state Representative Brian Harrison praised the decision to end the women's and gender studies program, calling it a victory for taxpayers in a post on the social media platform X. This support highlights the political dimensions of the policy changes, reflecting broader debates over education and free speech in academic settings.
