HOUSTON—The University of Houston System has completed a review of the general education curriculum under a new state law passed in 2025, which regents were briefed on during their quarterly meeting Thursday.
The review in question is required under Senate Bill 37, a measure state lawmakers passed in 2025. The new law also requires boards of regents to conduct a review of all general education curricula every five years.
General education requirements are a set of courses all students must complete, regardless of major. Higher education authors Jason Brennan and Phil Magness have criticized these mandates as a subsidy for economically unsustainable programs that frequently protect woke curricula from accountability.
Donna Cornell, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs, told regents that the system engaged in a two-part review, to include both the legally required review and a “concurrent” review of all other university curricula using similar standards.
Chancellor Renu Khator stated in a January update that the first process was complete and that the second one was ongoing.
“Academic freedom and academic responsibility have never been in conflict,” Cornell said.
Cornell further explained that academic freedom “does not confer unlimited discretion” to advance agendas beyond course objectives.
Cornell did not outline specific changes that would result from this review.
Elsewhere in the meeting, regents approved a faculty development leave for Zishang “Cathy” Liu, an accounting professor at UH Downtown, to explore “industry visibility and reputational dynamics as key moderators of ESG accountability.” Liu’s objective for the project is “to prevent greenwashing and strengthen climate‑related disclosure standards.”
Liu’s development leave was approved through the Academic, Research, and Student Success Committee, which is chaired by Regent Beth Madison. The committee did not discuss this item during its meeting.
Prior to the meeting of the full board, a series of speakers spoke against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities on campus. Another speaker asked the board to “divest” from “Zionism” due to alleged Israeli “genocide.”
A handful of protestors told the regents to “divest from death” before being escorted away by law enforcement.
Regents also discussed “Confidentiality of government information related to security or infrastructure issues for computers” during executive session but were not expected to take action.
The University of Houston System oversees three educational institutions. It is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Jack Moore is the current board chairman.
