(NEW YORK) – PEN America vehemently opposes Texas SB 37, a bill passed by the Texas State Senate on April 16 that, if enacted, would significantly curtail the content of general education courses and sideline faculty in every major aspect of university life – from curriculum design to hiring decisions to campus governance. The bill would shift power away from those with academic expertise and hand it to politically-appointed governing boards. PEN America urges all Texans to let their legislators know that they oppose this bill, now headed to the Texas House, and that they support students, educators, and freedom of expression in higher education.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and State Sen. Brandon Creighton were clear that their priorities for this legislative session included expanding on the DEI ban imposed in SB 17 (2023) by rooting out ‘DEI-related curriculum and course content’ and revisiting tenure and the role of faculty senates to limit faculty influence. This new bill makes good on that threat. In addition to language that will likely chill classroom discussions about “race, sex, or ethnicity, or social, political or religious belief,” the bill’s many provisions would keep faculty’s professional expertise out of decision-making in matters ranging from the degrees and certificates offered to hiring and employment matters. The bill would turn the faculty senate into a toothless advisory board dominated by administrative appointees, empower politically-appointed governing boards to overturn any administrative decision they don’t like, and designate a new governor-appointed “ombudsman” to ensure colleges and universities toe the line. PEN America’s Jeffrey A. Sachs pointed to this worrisome goal last month, writing that “what Texas lawmakers want is a general shift of university power upwards: from faculty to administrators, from administrators to the governing board, and (wherever possible) from the governing board to themselves.”
“SB 37 is an outright power grab that replaces pedagogy and process with ideology and cronyism,” says Amy Reid, Freedom to Learn senior manager at PEN America. “It is bad for students and educators and bad for the state of Texas.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Malka Margolies, [email protected], 718-530-3582