"In 2023, Texas became one of the first red states to institute a sweeping ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in public colleges and universities. Following pro-Palestinian protests and a police crackdown on an encampment at the University of Texas at Austin in 2024, the Texas Legislature this year passed another law restricting free speech on public campuses, including banning all expressive activities from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m."
"The Legislature also this year passed a wide-ranging bill that allows public college and university presidents to take over faculty senates and councils, prohibits faculty elected to those bodies from serving more than two years in a row, and creates an " ombudsman " position that can threaten universities' funding if they don't follow that law or the DEI ban. The lead author listed on all three laws is Sen. Brandon Creighton, chair of the Texas Senate education committee."
"His hiring by the system's Board of Regents-whose members are appointed by the governor with confirmation from the Senate-marks another example of a Republican politician in a large red state, namely Texas and Florida, being installed as a higher ed leader. The trend reflects an evolution in how Republicans are influencing public universities, from passing laws to directly leading institutions and systems."
Texas enacted a 2023 ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in public colleges and universities. In 2024 the Legislature passed a law restricting free speech on public campuses, banning all expressive activities from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Lawmakers also approved a bill allowing presidents to take over faculty senates and councils, limiting faculty terms to two years, and creating an " ombudsman " role with power to threaten funding for noncompliance. Sen. Brandon Creighton, the lead author on the laws, is the sole finalist for Texas Tech University System chancellor. The moves reflect a shift from legislating higher ed policy to installing partisan leaders, a change that may aid lobbying but could threaten academic freedom and alienate faculty.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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