The Texas Senate May Vote Soon on Controversial University Bill
Texas lawmakers may vote this week on Senate Bill 37 (SB 37) — a bill that could heavily change how public universities teach about history, race, and inequality. Critics say it might limit academic freedom and create fear among professors about what they can teach.
What’s Changing in the Bill:
1. Control Over What’s Taught
- The bill would require universities to review courses every 5 years to make sure they don’t:
- Distort major historical events,
- Claim one race is better or responsible for others’ actions,
- Teach that racism or inequality is built into U.S. institutions.
- Distort major historical events,
- Critics worry this could lead to censorship, like banning lessons about LGBTQ history or systemic racism.
2. Complaint System
- Anyone could file a complaint if they believe a university is breaking the law.
- An ombudsman (a new position) would investigate. If schools don’t fix issues within 30 days, the state could sue them or cut their funding.
- Experts warn this could flood schools with unfair complaints and scare off top professors.
3. Faculty and Hiring Rules
- The bill originally limited who could serve on faculty councils, but that’s changed.
- Now, any member using their role for “political advocacy” can be removed.
- Also, university presidents must personally hire key leaders (like deans), and the board of regents can still override them.
4. Focus on Job-Ready Degrees
- The bill pushes universities to cut degree programs that don’t lead to clear job outcomes.
- The state could stop funding programs that don’t show a good “return on investment.”
- Some experts agree with the job focus but warn not to cut valuable programs like philosophy, which still lead to meaningful careers after grad school.