> At a Glance
> – Texas A&M and other public universities are canceling or rewriting courses to comply with new state laws.
> – Dozens of classes now limit or remove discussion of race and gender.
> – Law author and new Texas Tech chancellor Brandon Creighton says students should study gender studies elsewhere.
> – Why it matters: Public-university curricula are shifting fast, and students returning next week will face fewer course options and a leadership dominated by former Republican lawmakers.
Texas A&M is overhauling its course catalog right now. The university has already canceled several classes and revised others to pull back on race and gender content, mirroring changes sweeping every public campus in the state.
Classroom Changes
Professors are scrambling to adjust syllabi before students arrive next week. According to reporting by the Texas Tribune and The New York Times, the revisions touch everything from literature seminars to sociology lectures.
Dr. Leonard Bright, a Texas A&M professor, says the moves reflect a larger power shift:
> “That is what higher education is, challenging students with a range of viewpoints. I mean, I would be more concerned if one viewpoint was being discussed.”
Policy Push
The driving force behind the overhaul is Brandon Creighton, the former lawmaker who authored the new restrictions. He now leads the Texas Tech University System as chancellor and argues the goal is job readiness.
Creighton outlined the review process:
- Courses will be evaluated for value.
- Only classes tied to degrees, licenses, or credentials are guaranteed to stay.
- Gender-studies enthusiasts should “look elsewhere.”
> “They can pursue any other learning avenue or path online or within some other medium that they choose to. But no,” he said.
Leadership Shift
The curriculum shake-up follows the resignation of Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III, who stepped down in September 2025 after a professor was secretly recorded and then fired during a children’s literature class.
Across Texas, Republican lawmakers now occupy the top posts at the biggest university systems:
- University of Texas
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- Texas State University
Key Takeaways
- Texas A&M has already canceled or revised numerous courses.
- Statewide, public universities are limiting race and gender content.
- Brandon Creighton, the law’s author, now oversees Texas Tech and is steering curricula toward workforce prep.
- Students start the new semester next week under a restructured academic landscape shaped by political leaders rather than faculty alone.
