The University of Texas at Austin picked a previously controversial social conservative to help draft a new “statement on academic integrity” as part of its plan to restore public trust in higher education.
Professor Mark Regnerus authored a paper in 2012 that argued children raised in households headed by homosexual couples face worse outcomes than those raised by married heterosexual couples.
Following the paper’s publication, the far left attempted to professionally deplatform Regnerus. These efforts included academic misconduct allegations of which he was ultimately cleared.
Fast forward to the university’s 2025 statement. Regnerus stated on social media that it was “the first time in 24 years that any UT-Austin administration ever asked for my input.”
UT-Austin’s academic integrity statement contains three sections: academic freedom and citizenship, academic integrity and the public trust, and academic integrity and teaching.
While short on specifics, the statement defines academic freedom as “the liberty to research, teach, and educate students in our collective pursuit of truth and knowledge.”
The section on public trust calls for “intellectual honesty and pedagogical responsibility,” along with “a spirit of humility” and “a spirit of grace.” Academic integrity, according to the statement, “forms the foundation for public trust in universities.”
Restoring public trust in higher education was a major theme in university President Jim Davis’ recent inaugural address.
The section on teaching creates several new responsibilities for faculty.
Faculty members are now expected to create an environment in which students feel comfortable expressing their opinions, even if they differ from those of others. They should also present differing viewpoints and scholarly evidence on “reasonably disputed and unsettled issues,” enabling students to evaluate different theories and form their own conclusions using reason and evidence. Finally, instructors ought to avoid discussing topics or controversies that are not relevant to course material.
The statement further explains that “competent instruction, freedom from indoctrination and harassment, [and] freedom to take reasoned exception to the views of professors” are core components of academic integrity.
The UT-Austin chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a trade association for left-wing faculty, expressed concern about the statement on social media.
“It is not clear how this statement will be used or who will be responsible for interpreting it,” the organization wrote in its full statement. “Our concern is that it could be used to sanction faculty because they have different views on what is balanced instruction on ‘disputed matters’ & ‘unsettled issues,’ or what content is ‘germane’ to a course.”
UT-Austin did not reply to a request for comment.
UT-Austin is a component of the University of Texas System. The UT System is overseen by a board of regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife is the current board chairman.
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