In a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the Texas Tech University Board of Regents will review a proposal to eliminate more than 20 courses that currently count toward general‑education requirements. The targeted classes include a literature course that links social justice with environmental issues and a women’s and gender studies class that examines race, class, and gender worldwide.
Background and legal context
The proposal follows Texas Tech System Chancellor Brandon Creighton’s 2025 law that obliges regents to audit core‑curriculum courses at least once every five years and certify compliance by Jan. 1. Creighton, a former Republican state senator, has used his authority to restrict instruction on race, sexual orientation, and gender identity across the system.
Under the law, regents must determine whether each course provides a broad education, prepares students for work and civic life, and avoids unnecessary costs. Supporters argue that the review safeguards students from courses that promote partisan viewpoints, while critics warn it could open the door to political interference in academic decisions.
Proposed changes at Texas Tech
The agenda packet lists a class titled “Introduction to Women’s Studies.” Texas Tech’s current catalog lists “Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies.” It is unclear whether the change reflects a rename, a content shift, or a replacement with a different course.
If the board approves the changes, they would take effect for students enrolling in fall 2027. The same agenda also includes potential adjustments to general‑education requirements at Angelo State University and Midwestern State University, the system’s other public‑university members.
Reactions from faculty and legal challenges
Andrew Martin, outgoing president of Texas Tech’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, called the regents’ increased involvement “an egregious overreach and a clear violation of institutional norms.” He noted that faculty traditionally set core‑curriculum standards, with regents providing final approval.
The Texas chapter of the A.A.U.P. and its national organization have filed a lawsuit against Creighton and the regents, asserting that the restrictions infringe on professors’ constitutional rights.
Political backdrop
The proposal arrives as Democrats have swept recent statewide elections for governor, lieutenant governor, and the Texas House, raising the prospect of revisiting Creighton’s law and other Republican‑backed higher‑education policies, such as bans on diversity, equity and inclusion offices.
Governor‑elect Gina Hinojosa will soon have the opportunity to appoint three new regents, potentially reshaping the board’s composition before the next legislative session begins in January.
Comparative actions at other Texas universities
Texas A&M University System regents recently removed 78 courses from the College Station flagship, and University of Houston regents cut 97 courses, many of which addressed LGBTQ‑related topics. Those moves illustrate a broader trend of state‑wide scrutiny of core‑curriculum offerings.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is slated to review recommendations from a statewide advisory committee on general‑education courses and may forward its suggestions to lawmakers for the upcoming session.
Student involvement
Texas Tech’s Student Senate voted on Nov. 5 to conduct a campus‑wide survey of roughly 45,000 students regarding Creighton’s restrictions. The resolution requires a minimum of 6,000 responses before the results can inform future Senate decisions.
As the debate continues, students, faculty, and policymakers alike will watch how the regents balance academic freedom with the goal of delivering a “broad education” that prepares graduates for both the workforce and civic participation.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
