Texas Tech University has implemented new policies restricting how faculty members can teach about race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. The restrictions were introduced following the appointment of Brandon Creighton as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System in November 2025. Creighton issued two directives—one in December 2025 and another in April 2026—that outline permitted classroom content and call for phasing out academic programs centered on these topics.
The policies have created significant uncertainty among faculty about what material is permissible in their courses. Professors report that students, staff and instructors are navigating unclear boundaries around discussion of these subjects. The restrictions have prompted changes to course materials and sparked concerns about the scope of academic freedom. Some faculty members have continued discussing the policies with students despite receiving instructions from university administrators not to do so.
Before assuming his current role, Creighton authored Senate Bill 17 in 2023, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities while exempting classroom instruction. He later authored Senate Bill 37 in 2025, which gave university governing boards expanded curriculum authority. An earlier version of that bill would have prohibited core courses from teaching concepts related to systemic inequality, though lawmakers removed that language before passage. As chancellor, Creighton has imposed restrictions at Texas Tech that go beyond statutory requirements.
Creighton has characterized the law as a “floor” for potential restrictions, indicating the university system’s policies could exceed legislative mandates. He has disputed characterizations of the restrictions as censorship, stating that policy decisions should center on what benefits students and workforce development. The policies have drawn opposition from faculty and students while receiving support from some conservative students on campus.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI