College of Texas regents approve rule limiting controversial topics

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The College of Texas System’s Board of Regents on Thursday authorized a rule requiring its universities to permit college students to graduate with out learning "unnecessarily controversial topics."

The rule, authorized unanimously, additionally states that school should embody the matters they plan to show of their syllabi and comply with that plan all through the course, based on The Texas Tribune. When programs embody controversial subject matter , instructors are directed to take a "broad and balanced method" to the dialogue.

The coverage doesn't outline what constitutes "controversial" or a "broad and balanced method." Board Chair Kevin Eltife mentioned the shortage of specifics was as a result of the system wished to create a coverage that would work within the present politically charged surroundings.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/university-texas-regents-controversial-subjects-teaching.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/university-texas-regents-controversial-subjects-teaching.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/university-texas-regents-controversial-subjects-teaching.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/university-texas-regents-controversial-subjects-teaching.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> The College of Texas System’s Board of Regents authorized a rule requiring its universities to permit college students to graduate with out learning "unnecessarily controversial topics." (Getty Pictures)

"We're in tough instances," he mentioned, based on The Texas Tribune. "Vagueness could be our buddy."

Critics of the brand new rule argued that failing to outline these phrases would pressure directors to interpret them on a case-by-case foundation, which might result in professors leaving out tough materials to keep away from the chance of complaints.

"Will [administrators] be consultants within the related disciplines or will they simply search to keep away from disagreeable publicity?" Peter Onyisi, a College of Texas at Austin physics professor, mentioned throughout public testimony from school, college students and alumni who opposed the coverage, based on The Texas Tribune.

Different audio system warned that limiting controversial matters would depart college students unprepared for careers that require addressing advanced political and social points.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/texas-regents-rule-controversial-teachings-campus-students.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/texas-regents-rule-controversial-teachings-campus-students.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/texas-regents-rule-controversial-teachings-campus-students.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/texas-regents-rule-controversial-teachings-campus-students.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> The rule states that school should embody the matters they plan to show of their syllabi and comply with that plan all through the course. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman through Getty Pictures)

"The job market is basically robust proper now, ask any undergrad," David Grey Widder, a professor in UT-Austin’s College of Data, mentioned throughout public testimony. "We will’t do that to our college students."

Allen Liu, a civil rights lawyer for the NAACP Authorized Protection Fund, additionally advised that the rule might result in "viewpoint discrimination" and discourage instruction about slavery, segregation and different matters related to Black historical past.

The UT System had a rule for no less than a decade giving school freedom within the classroom whereas additionally stating that they "are anticipated to not introduce into their educating controversial matter that has no relation to his or her topic," The Texas Tribune reported.

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College of Texas System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife mentioned the rule's lack of specifics was as a result of the system wished to create a coverage that would work within the present politically charged surroundings. (Sara Diggins/The Austin American-Statesman through Getty Pictures)

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Up to now yr, public universities in Texas have been pressured by Republicans on the state and federal stage to root out what has been described as liberal bias.

Below a brand new state legislation, regents appointed by the governor have elevated oversight of classroom instruction, hiring and self-discipline.

A gender identity lesson at Texas A&M College final fall that ignited conservative backlash additionally led the Texas A&M and Texas Tech techniques to undertake insurance policies proscribing instruction on race, gender and sexuality, though the UT System's new rule doesn't explicitly ban these matters.