HUNTSVILLE—Regents of the Texas State University System authorized bylaws for the creation of new, advisory-only faculty senates or councils at their component institutions. The move was necessary to comply with a new state law.
That law, Senate Bill 37, abolished a practice known as “shared governance.” Under that system, university presidents delegated formal decision-making authority to faculty representatives elected by their colleagues.
Under the new law, faculty bodies may only serve in an advisory capacity. Campus presidents, who report to boards of regents, maintain all formal decision-making authority.
Regents had abolished existing faculty bodies and authorized campus presidents to create new entities at their previous meeting in August.
Individual campus presidents developed new bylaws for their specific universities.
According to the regents’ resolution, “These bylaws were reviewed and approved by the respective Chief Academic Officer/Provost and President, and subsequently reviewed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Health Affairs and the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel to confirm consistency with System policies, applicable laws, and governance requirements.”
“The bylaws for each institution establish faculty-only membership, representation parameters, advisory scope, officer appointments by the president, and meeting procedures consistent with Board policy,” the resolution continued.
Regents authorized the change without discussion as part of their consent agenda.
Regarding internal business, regents elected Stephen Lee and Don Flores as board chair and vice chair, respectively, for 2026. Alan Tinsley is the outgoing chair. Lee had previously served as vice chair.
Lamar State University also announced it would name a building on campus after former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. Phelan currently represents the area, but is not running for re-election.
During Thursday’s meeting, regents voted to reaffirm the termination and tenure revocation of former Texas State University Professor Tom Alter following a discussion in executive session. Alter had called for the overthrow of the U.S. government.
“After a thorough review of the facts, as well as information provided during Dr. Thomas Alter’s due process hearing, the Board of Regents has voted unanimously to uphold President Damphousse’s decision to summarily dismiss Dr. Alter and revoke his tenure,” a Texas State spokesperson told Texas Scorecard.
The quarterly meeting of the Texas State University System was held on the Sam Houston State University campus.
The Texas State University System consists of seven component institutions. It is overseen by a board of regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
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