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The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously approved Thursday a rule requiring its universities to ensure students can graduate without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects,” despite warnings it could leave them less prepared for the real world.
The rule also requires faculty to disclose in their syllabi the topics they plan to cover and adhere to the plan, and says that when courses include controversial issues, instructors must ensure a “broad and balanced approach” to the discussion.
The policy does not define what qualifies as “controversial” or what constitutes a “broad and balanced approach.” Opponents warned that leaving those terms undefined would force administrators to interpret them case by case, pressuring professors to avoid difficult material rather than risk complaints.
“Will they (administrators) be experts in the relevant disciplines or will they just seek to avoid unpleasant publicity?” Peter Onyisi, a University of Texas at Austin physics professor, said during roughly 40 minutes of public testimony from 10 speakers, a mix of faculty, students and alumni who all opposed the policy.
Board Chair Kevin Eltife said the lack of specificity came as the system tried to craft a policy that could work in today’s politically charged environment.
“We are in difficult times,” he said. “Vagueness can be our friend.”
Other speakers said restricting controversial material would leave students unprepared for careers that require navigating complex, unsettled political and social problems.
“The job market is really tough right now, ask any undergrad,” said David Gray Widder, a professor in UT-Austin’s School of Information. “We can’t do this to our students.”
A civil rights attorney also warned the rule could invite legal challenges. Allen Liu, policy counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said it could lead to “viewpoint discrimination” and disproportionately affect Black students and faculty by discouraging teaching about slavery, segregation and other subjects central to Black history.
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