A series of controversial Texas A&M faculty members who were recently awarded tenure had their applications reviewed and approved at six separate bureaucratic levels at the College Station campus.
The faculty in question, with backgrounds in subjects such as critical race theory and queer theory, received final approval for their tenure applications from the Texas A&M Board of Regents at the May meeting.
According to a February 18, 2026, memorandum from Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Blanca Lupiani to then-interim President Tommy Williams, all of the tenure applications in this cohort “have been reviewed by the unit head, college/school committee, dean, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.” Provost Alan Sams was listed as a “through” contact on this memo.
The memorandum in question was obtained via open records request.
Between the six levels of review at the College Station campus, and final approval from the board of regents, a total of seven layers of bureaucracy approved these applications.
Texas A&M previously told Texas Scorecard that the faculty in question had engaged in “lawful research, including on controversial topics,” and that “no violations of law or policy were found during the review process for the faculty granted tenure during the May board meeting.”
Texas A&M University is a component of the Texas A&M University System. The Texas A&M System is overseen by a board of regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Robert Albritton of Fort Worth is the current board chairman.
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