The American Association of University Professors and its Texas chapter filed a federal lawsuit on July 8 against Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton and the system’s Board of Regents. The plaintiffs challenge memoranda issued by Creighton in December 2025 and April 2026 that directed administrators at the system’s five institutions to review course materials and restrict instruction on topics related to sex, race, gender identity and sexual orientation.
The directives were issued under Senate Bill 37, which the Legislature passed in 2025 as an enforcement mechanism for existing state prohibitions on diversity, equity and inclusion programming. According to the lawsuit, approximately 8,500 courses were evaluated by early May 2026, with around 500 reviewed by the Board’s Academic, Clinical and Student Affairs Committee. Dozens of previously approved courses were subsequently modified as a result. At Texas Tech Health El Paso, the restrictions prevented medical education discussions of health disparities among racial and sexual minorities, including Hispanic, African American and LGBTQIA populations.
The lawsuit identifies an anonymous Texas Tech Health El Paso faculty member who self-censored course material and was instructed not to use the word “disparity” when teaching about underserved populations. Legal representatives argue the directives have created fear and confusion across campuses and violate First Amendment free speech protections and Fourteenth Amendment guarantees including the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause. The plaintiffs requested an immediate injunction to halt the policies.
Texas Tech University System officials stated confidence in the lawfulness of their policies, asserting compliance with state and federal law and commitment to academic integrity. The system declined to specify which courses were modified and directed information requests to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Senior counsel for the plaintiffs noted that the true scope of harm may be difficult to quantify, as restrictions have already impeded class discussions and experiential learning. Legal representatives anticipated a federal court hearing in El Paso this summer, potentially before the fall 2026 semester begins.