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The policy prohibits any academic course from advocating "race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity" without advance approval from campus presidents. The directive affects Texas A&M University—one of the nation's largest institutions—along with 11 other campuses in the system.
Under the new rules, "race ideology" is defined as concepts that "attempt to shame a particular race or ethnicity, accuse them of being oppressors in a racial hierarchy or conspiracy," or assign "intrinsic guilt based on the actions of their presumed ancestors or relatives." The policy defines "gender ideology" as "a concept of self-assessed gender identity replacing and disconnected from the biological category of sex."
Dr. James Hallmark, vice chancellor for the system's Office of Academic Affairs, told regents the aim is "transparent and documented cocurricular review, not policing individual speech."
The American Association of University Professors raised immediate concerns about the policy's implications for faculty autonomy and constitutional protections.
"It really strikes at the heart of what education means and what universities do, which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation, without fear of censorship," said Dr. Rana Jaleel, chair of the AAUP's committee on academic freedom.
The board also approved a companion policy stating faculty "will not introduce a controversial matter that has no relation to the classroom subject or teach material that is inconsistent with the approved syllabus."
While regents did not explicitly reference recent controversies during the vote, the policy follows the September termination of Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer in Texas A&M's English department. McCoul was fired after video circulated showing her arguing with a student over gender identity content in a children's literature class. Her dismissal came amid pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott.
Shortly after McCoul's termination, then-President Dr. Mark A. Welsh III resigned without stating a reason, though the university had faced sustained political pressure following the incident.
Eight Texas A&M professors and instructors spoke against the policy during Thursday's meeting, with several calling for McCoul's reinstatement.
The Texas A&M action comes as universities nationwide face intensifying scrutiny over diversity, equity and inclusion programs and campus responses to protests. The Trump administration has pressured multiple institutions, including asking nine major universities—among them the University of Texas at Austin—to eliminate race and sex from admissions decisions and promote conservative viewpoints.
Other Texas university systems have implemented classroom restrictions or launched internal reviews of course offerings following recent state legislation. A Texas law effective September 1 prohibits K-12 schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity, though it does not extend to higher education institutions.
Critics warn such policies may violate First Amendment protections and could create chilling effects on academic discourse at public universities.
