BY TEXAS AAUP-AFT
The following statement was released November 19 by the Texas AAUP-AFT.
Upon the passage of Senate Bill 17 last year, Texas faculty warned of the detrimental impacts the state’s so-called ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and practices would have on the ability of colleges and universities to perform their duties to provide high-quality academic environments. Less than a year after the law went into effect, their predictions have been proven right, with the latest evidence arriving in the form of censorship of academic course content regarding race, class, and gender inequality at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton.
At UNT, faculty have reported more than 200 instances of the UNT VP and Chief Compliance Officer Clay Simmons and other administrators demanding an instructor make changes in course content based on the administrative review of a course syllabus or course catalog description, including removal of words such as “race,” “gender,” “class” and “equity.” This action not only flies in the face of UNT’s own policy on academic freedom, it also defies SB 17 itself, which states explicitly that the law “may not be construed to apply to … academic course instruction [or] scholarly research”.
Today, the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (Texas AAUP-AFT), in concert with two other major faculty associations, sent a letter to UNT’s central administrators reminding President Harrison Keller and Chancellor Michael R. Williams of their duty to honor academic freedom and a commitment to shared governance. As outlined in university policy, the administration is required to consult with the faculty as the “primary” voice in curriculum and other academic matters prior to implementing any changes.
Texas AAUP-AFT, the Texas Faculty Association, and the Texas Association of College Teachers call for the immediate suspension of, and reversal of all previous course content changes, by the UNT administration due to overcompliance with SB17. We urge UNT to fully implement policies on the authority of faculty in academic and governance matters and placing primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of the curriculum with its faculty.
“Texas AAUP-AFT remains opposed to SB 17 in full, but even as we advocate for its repeal, we expect the letter of its law to be followed at the very least,” said Dr. Brian Evans, president of Texas AAUP-AFT. “The actions of UNT administrators, alleged and documented by UNT faculty, defy state law, along with the university’s own policy, requirements from the accreditation body for Texas colleges and universities, and the long-standing ‘gold standard’ for academic freedom adopted by 85% of American universities, including UNT. There is simply no excuse for this blatant censorship; it is self-inflicted harm that is already seeding a culture of fear and compliance out of fear of reprisal among faculty and that will deny students a rigorous and challenging academic environment and needlessly damage the reputation of this university.”
Read the letter to UNT administrators.
Texas American Association of University Professors (Texas AAUP-AFT) – Nationally, AAUP was founded by faculty in 1915. We champion academic freedom, advance shared governance, and organize all faculty to promote economic security and quality education. Texas AAUP was founded in 1964 and affiliated with Texas AFT in March 2024. Here’s a link to join Texas AAUP-AFT and several reasons to join. Follow us on X @TexasAaup and @aaup_utAustin.
The statement is fine and clear. If they do not respond, then declare a wildcat strike!
Why do you keep this up? Because there’s no other way? Because there is. Because the arrangement has worked so well over the centuries? Because it hasn’t and such a claim doesn’t mean much anyway since there is no comparative, no competitor for the universitas you assume. Because it puts food on your table? Because the comparative I offer does that, much better food, more cheaply and without the need of these institutional middlemen that for centuries have been at the throat of academic authority and practice in higher education (being used by the state (among others) for purposes nowhere near your dining table. You must stop this by stopping continued assumption of the inherited model of universities and colleges that employ academics who provide the service and stewardship for the social pillar. Please tell me you see that independent profession public practice as an academic across the street from UNT would brick the box. Or maybe it would, so try some research: https://bit.ly/AofResPSA