Texas Tech joins A&M in restricting race, LGBTQ+ course content

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Texas Tech University Lubbock

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech has become the second state university system in Texas to impose major restrictions on what can be taught regarding race and gender-related content. 

The move comes after the Texas A&M system's similar set of rules were put in place, following a controversy that ended in demotions, a firing and a resignation. 

Texas Tech restricts course content

What we know:

The restrictions were set in a memo from the new school system Chancellor Brandon Creighton. Creighton previously served as the Texas senator for District 4, covering part of the greater Houston area. He authored Senate Bill 37, which changed how school systems determine their course content. 

The memo, which the school released Monday, prohibits the following six concepts from being taught in classes:

• One race or sex is inherently superior to another;
• An individual, by virtue of race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, consciously or unconsciously;
• Any person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of race or sex;
• Moral character or worth is determined by race or sex;
• Individuals bear responsibility or guilt for actions of others of the same race or sex; or
• Meritocracy or a strong work ethic are racist, sexist, or constructs of oppression.

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Texas A&M tightens restrictions on professors teaching race, gender topics

At the end of a two-day-long meeting of the board of regents, Texas A&M leaders voted in favor of strengthening regulation of race and gender studies.

The school system now only recognizes two genders, male and female, in accordance with state and federal law. 

Additionally, faculty are now required to submit course content related to sexual orientation to the board of regents for review before it can be taught. The review process is laid out in the memo in detail. 

Senate Bill 37

Dig deeper:

Creighton's SB 37, which was signed on June 20 and went into effect Sept. 1, relates to the governance of state universities and colleges. 

The new Texas law mandates that boards of regents check course content every five years. These reviews are intended to make sure content is foundational, preparational and in line with accreditation standards.

It also creates a new state office that investigates complaints about higher education course work. The bill outlines this Office of the Ombudsman as an intermediary between lawmakers, schools and the public. 

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State Sen. Brandon Creighton named sole finalist for Texas Tech chancellor

The Texas Tech University Board of Regents on Thursday named state Sen. Brandon Creighton as the lone finalist for its chancellor position.

Texas A&M LGBTQ+ controversy

Dig deeper:

At the beginning of September, two Texas A&M University administrators were demoted for allowing course content that was inconsistent with class descriptions. 

This came after video went viral of a student confronting professor Melissa McCoul over her coursework, which the school and state leaders defined as "gender ideology." McCoul was later fired, following pressure from state lawmakers who were upset by the presence of gender identity topics in a children's literature class. 

Then-president of the school, Mark A. Welsh III, later stepped down from his role. He never confirmed that this was directly due to the controversy. 

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Texas A&M president to step down in midst of LGBT course content controversy

The move comes after pressure from Texas legislators to reshape school leadership in response to LGBT content being taught on campus.

Course restrictions:

As of mid-November, all professors at all 12 A&M system campuses are now prohibited from advocating "race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity" without first getting permission from a campus president. 

"Race ideology" now encompasses any concept that "attempts to shame a particular race or ethnicity" or "promotes activism on issues related to race or ethnicity rather than academic instruction," according to the proposal documents.

The same document defines "gender ideology" as "a concept of self-assessed gender identity replacing, and disconnected from, the biological category of sex."