Texas lawmakers and university leaders defended the early implementation of Senate Bill 37 on Tuesday, saying public universities are seeing record enrollment while continuing to review and revise academic programs under the new law.
Senate Bill 37 gives university regents appointed by the governor greater authority over what is taught at public universities. Supporters say the law is designed to streamline course offerings and prioritize degree programs that better prepare students for jobs after graduation. Critics argue the changes amount to censorship and threaten academic freedom.
“There was a drumbeat that somehow the sky is falling. Well, the answer is no. And more importantly, we have record enrollment,” Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said.
The law directs university leaders to review their course offerings for efficiency.
“To make sure that we strive for excellence and that we’re better every single day,” Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton said.
The Texas Tech University System, now led by Creighton, who authored the legislation while serving in the Senate, reviewed about 14,000 courses and changed 60 of them, including courses related to gender studies.
During Tuesday’s discussion, critics said instruction in the Texas Tech law school about the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, a key moment in African American history, had also been removed. Creighton told Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, that the change should not have happened and said he would investigate.
“I’m just trying to figure out where occurred and ask you to take a look at it and whether or not that should be reversed,” West said.
“We will look into it. And I believe that’s what you’re asking me is to contact the dean and work with the faculty that maybe misunderstood the process itself,” Creighton said.
Parts of Senate Bill 37 are still being challenged in court. A federal lawsuit filed by the American Association of University Professors argues the law represents a crackdown on academic freedom.
“You don’t have to all think alike, and that’s a key thing with academic freedom, but you have to have the right to speak,” Teresa Klein with the Texas AAUP said.
Despite the ongoing legal challenge, universities continue reviewing courses and making changes.
“We need these course reviews that the bill provided to allow us to get more efficiencies,” University of North Texas Chancellor Michael Williams said.
Williams said the University of North Texas removed or consolidated 70 courses, including courses in gender studies, dance, geology and linguistics.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
