Texas Republicans have made significant changes to public higher education, including banning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, curtailing faculty decision-making roles, and implementing curriculum reviews. Senate Bill 37, recently signed into law, established an ombudsman position tasked with enforcing these bans and ensuring compliance across institutions. The governor appoints the ombudsman, who can recommend cutting state funding to non-compliant universities, raising concerns about academic freedom and potential politicization of the role. The ombudsman will investigate reports of violations related to race, gender identity, and the provisions of SB 37.
Senate Bill 37, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, created an ombudsman to ensure compliance with DEI bans and university curriculum reviews, raising concerns over academic freedom.
The governor has ultimate authority to appoint and fire the ombudsman, intensifying fears of politicization in higher education oversight in Texas.
Collection
[
|
...
]