A major policy shift at Texas A&M University is sending ripples through higher education statewide–including right here in Lubbock at Texas Tech.
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Faculty at Texas A&M were recently told that roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences could be altered, reassigned, or removed from the core curriculum due to new system-wide restrictions on how race, gender, and related topics can be discussed in certain classes. The changes come just days before classes begin, after students had already registered.
While the situation is unfolding in College Station, similar policies are already affecting campuses within the Texas Tech University System.
What’s Happening at Texas A&M
The changes stem from a policy approved by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents in November, requiring administrators to approve courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology,” particularly in introductory and core curriculum classes.
Since then, emails obtained by The Texas Tribune show:
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An introductory sociology course on race and ethnicity was canceled
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A communications course was renumbered to remove core credit
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A philosophy professor was told to remove certain readings–including Plato–or be reassigned
University officials say exemptions can be requested if race or gender topics are deemed essential to a course, but those approvals are still pending, leaving students and faculty uncertain as the semester begins.
Why This Matters to Texas Tech Students
Texas Tech is not immune to these changes. The Texas Tech University System already prohibits certain race- or sex-related course content, except in cases where it is required for licensing, certification, or patient care…