UT System Tightens Classroom Topics, Sparking Academic-Freedom Fears

The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a policy to curb 'controversial topics' in courses, requiring faculty to avoid coercion, not include unrelated controversial matters in syllabi, and to follow the syllabus while promoting balanced discussion and academic integrity. While officials say the goal is to foster trust and expose students to multiple viewpoints, critics warn it could curb responses to current events, hamper inquiry, and lead to censorship, with enforcement details still unclear across 14 UT institutions. The move follows broader Texas higher-ed restrictions on curricula related to race and gender, and comes as UT Austin consolidates several ethnic- and gender-studies departments.