Professors, AAUP Sue Texas A&M Over Teaching Curbs, Seeking 6 Canceled Courses
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · Aug 4
Professors, AAUP Sue Texas A&M Over Teaching Curbs, Seeking 6 Canceled Courses
3 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · Aug 4
Summary
Four professors and the AAUP asked a federal judge in Houston to block Texas A&M System rules limiting teaching on race, gender and sexuality and to restore courses canceled under the policy.
The suit says the policy violates the First Amendment because it bars undefined “advocacy,” requires presidential approval for some classes and effectively bans the topics in core courses.
Faculty say the rules already forced syllabus changes and cancellations, including Leonard Bright’s seminar in January and an LGBTQ literature course planned for this fall; one professor was told to drop “Moonlight” and “Trans-Generation.”
Texas A&M has said only 6 of more than 5,400 reviewed courses were canceled, but the plaintiffs argue the policy chills teaching far beyond that count and permits some viewpoints while censoring others.
The restrictions followed a 2025 uproar over a gender-identity lesson that led to a professor’s firing, then-President Mark Welsh’s resignation and a systemwide course review ordered by Chancellor Glenn Hegar.