University of Texas to vote on how race, gender can be discussed in classrooms

Samuel O’Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Feb 18, 2026

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The University of Texas System Board of Regents will meet Wednesday during its quarterly meeting to discuss a policy that will decide how universities are allowed to teach “controversial topics” like race, gender and LGBTQ areas of study.

The University of Texas System, which includes University of Texas at Arlington and UT Dallas, decided to vote on guidance on teaching such topics after the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents passed a similar ordinance late last year. Professors at A&M are now required to have their course syllabuses reviewed by department heads.

Several A&M syllabuses have been rejected for including course content related to race and gender theory, the Star-Telegram previously reported. One professor’s syllabus was rejected for including readings from Plato. Another had his class canceled just days before the spring semester for failing to submit his syllabus for review.

According to the UT Board of Regents meeting agenda, university leaders believe the guidance will “foster classroom cultures of trust in which all students feel free to voice their questions and beliefs, especially when those perspectives might conflict with those of the instructor or other students.” The guidance would also prohibit professors from including course material that is not considered “relevant” to the course.

“In the classroom, instructors must be careful stewards of their pedagogical responsibilities and classroom authorities and must endeavor to create a classroom culture of trust,” the ordinance reads. “Instructors must not attempt to coerce, indoctrinate, harass, or belittle students, especially in addressing controversial subjects and areas where people of good faith can hold differing convictions.”

If the ordinance on guidance passes Wednesday, UT System professors will be prohibited from teaching undisclosed material that is not clearly relevant and grounded in the topic of that course. If a course does include controversial and contested issues, professors must maintain a balanced approach and discussion. University leadership would be responsible for determining what is considered relevant.

Like Texas A&M, UT system schools would review syllabuses during a curriculum review period and make a determination on when controversial material is necessary. Texas A&M’s new similar policy has caused friction between the university and a number of faculty members.

Graduate professor Leonard Bright, who said his class was canceled just days before its first session at the start of the current spring semester, said the school’s claim he did not follow necessary course review requirements was false. Bright also wrote in an X post that his colleagues and students found out about the school’s decision to cancel his class before he did.

“The message was clear: Be very afraid no one can save you from being censored at Texas A&M,” Bright wrote on X.

Bright is also the president of A&M’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a group that protects faculty’s academic freedom. Bright has loudly shared his concerns about A&M’s course review process since it was passed, including a statement after another A&M professor was told to remove class readings last month.

Texas A&M announced last month it was ending its women’s and gender studies department after currently enrolled students complete their degree. The university wrote in a statement at the time that six courses were being canceled because of the “controversial topics” guidance.

On Tuesday, the American Association of University Professors wrote in a news release that it urges the UT System Board of Regents “in the strongest terms” to reject the proposed guidance.

“The policy restricts the freedom of instructors to respond to student questions on past and current events, bring new breakthroughs and innovations into the course, and challenge the students to think about what could happen in the future,” AAUP wrote in the release. “In order for students to have the freedom to learn, instructors need the freedom to teach.”