Public universities across the country are facing increasing involvement from state lawmakers, with some states passing laws to give themselves more control over academic decisions. In Alabama, the state legislature passed a law curtailing the power of faculty senates at public colleges and universities. Similarly, in Texas, a new law grants political appointees unprecedented power over the state’s public colleges and universities.

Concerns About Academic Freedom

Faculty advocates and free speech groups are warning that these new laws will chill academic freedom and make universities more susceptible to political influence. They argue that the move towards top-down governance at universities will erode academic freedom and pressure faculty to align their research and teaching with ideological interests rather than independent inquiry.

In Texas, the new law has already led to the cancellation of academic programs centered on sexual orientation and gender identity, and has resulted in the firing of several professors. The law’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Matt Shaheen, said the goal is to ensure that degrees earned in Texas are of value and prepare students for success.

National Trend

The trend of state lawmakers increasing control over public universities is not limited to Texas and Alabama. Other states, such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Utah, have also enacted similar laws. Supporters of these measures argue that they are necessary to hold taxpayer-funded public colleges and universities accountable, while opponents argue that they will undermine academic freedom and lead to a loss of autonomy for universities.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.