The Board of Regents of Texas A&M University System pushed back against “shared governance” with woke faculty members. They voted to end 52 low-performing programs, including an LGBTQ minor.
Over the course of many months, State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) repeatedly criticized DEI courses and the LGBTQ studies minor at Texas A&M. In September 2024, a university spokesperson confirmed that they would deactivate 38 certificates and 14 minors, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies minor.
On November 7, the Board of Regents unanimously approved the deactivation of these programs by voice vote.
Also included for elimination were certificates in Cultural Competency, Diversity, and Popular Culture.
The Texas A&M (TAMU) Faculty Senate and President Mark Welsh tried to stonewall these efforts. According to the November 7 resolution, on page 176 of the board agenda, Welsh had recommended “that the current review process be halted and restarted to obtain input from the Faculty Senate.” The board rejected this suggestion.
Multiple faculty members spoke in opposition to the decision at the November 7 meeting.
Dr. Marian Eide, professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies, said that on October 7, the faculty senate voted 30-0 against removing the LGBTQ minor. “This request from the provost office is in clear violation of shared governance,” she said. “The minor was developed largely due to student demand.”
According to a spreadsheet attached to the board resolution, a total of six students had enrolled in the LGBTQ minor during the fall and spring semesters of 2023 and the fall semester of 2024 combined. Over the same time period, only five students had enrolled in the Cultural Competency certificate, four in Diversity, and none in Popular Culture.
“We’re talking about 52 courses. They all have one thing in common,” Regent and Vice Chairman of the Board Robert Albritton said. “We look at the number of students signing up for this … we have to deal with the facts.”
Dr. Angie Hill Price, speaker of the faculty senate, claimed that elimination would put TAMU’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at risk.
“Don’t think this board doesn’t get legal advice before we take a position on anything,” Albritton replied.
The Board of Regents has also directed the presidents of other TAMUS institutions “to promptly initiate a review of minors and certificate programs to identify any low-producing programs that may require elimination.”
Meanwhile, they instructed the TAMUS chancellor to revise the system policy for “Low Producing Degree Programs” to include certificates and minors. The board will consider this revision at the February 2025 meeting.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe), chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee, praised the board’s vote. “Proud to see the reforms we passed in the Texas Senate making a real impact at Texas A&M,” he posted on X. “More bold reforms are coming for higher ed in the 89th session.”
The resolution and full list of low-performing programs is on page 176 of the TAMUS Board of Regents Agenda for November 7.
