Texas Conference of the AAUP
@texasaaup.bsky.social
We are an association of all AAUP members in Texas #HigherEd. Join us as we advocate for faculty and instructors through the state. Become involved in a local chapter or start one!
https://connect.aft.org/app/memberforms/8041A/JoinTheFight
https://connect.aft.org/app/memberforms/8041A/JoinTheFight
Pinned
🔔Our open letter to academic leaders in TX: “As pressures mount on TX public institutions of higher education, we write on behalf of faculty across the state to remind you of your obligations to protect academic freedom and due process.”
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Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
"Smaller discretionary grants, awarded without scholarly review, have so far gone to scholars with ties to conservative or religious institutions... including $30,000 for a project called 'Meritocracy vs. Equity: The Declaration of Independence in Tension With Critical Race Theory and D.E.I.'"
As the top Democrat overseeing the National Endowment for the Humanities, I’ve spent the past few months digging into the Administration’s unprecedented dismantling of the agency.
What I found reveals a disturbing pattern of corruption.
What I found reveals a disturbing pattern of corruption.
Fired Scholars and Big Grants to Favored Projects: Inside Trump’s N.E.H.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
"Smaller discretionary grants, awarded without scholarly review, have so far gone to scholars with ties to conservative or religious institutions... including $30,000 for a project called 'Meritocracy vs. Equity: The Declaration of Independence in Tension With Critical Race Theory and D.E.I.'"
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
truly orwellian .. presidents now can determine whether hundreds of courses are 'legitimate' ... censorship of the worst kind––how knowledge is constructed, validated, accessed
Faculty, advocates react to Texas A&M University's new race and gender approval system
www.npr.org/2025/11/15/n...
Faculty, advocates react to Texas A&M University's new race and gender approval system
www.npr.org/2025/11/15/n...
Faculty, advocates react to Texas A&M University's new race and gender approval system
The new Texas A&M University System, which requires professors to obtain approval from the school president to discuss certain race and gender topics, has been met with opposition from faculty and fre...
www.npr.org
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
truly orwellian .. presidents now can determine whether hundreds of courses are 'legitimate' ... censorship of the worst kind––how knowledge is constructed, validated, accessed
Faculty, advocates react to Texas A&M University's new race and gender approval system
www.npr.org/2025/11/15/n...
Faculty, advocates react to Texas A&M University's new race and gender approval system
www.npr.org/2025/11/15/n...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
the more you read about the new Texas A&M policy, the more insidious and outrageous it becomes: e.g. "This also includes course content that promotes activism on issues related to race or ethnicity, rather than academic instruction.” We're back to duck & cover
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Texas A&M Requires Approval for Courses That “Advocate” Certain Ideologies
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a once-per-semester systemwide course revie...
www.insidehighered.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
the more you read about the new Texas A&M policy, the more insidious and outrageous it becomes: e.g. "This also includes course content that promotes activism on issues related to race or ethnicity, rather than academic instruction.” We're back to duck & cover
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
democracyforward.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:21 AM
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
I'd guess that 85-90% of American scientists would be ineligible for future funding under this law, maybe close to 100% in the R1 universities. So much for funding proposals based on scientific merit.
Apart from being sinophobes, the people pushing this have no clue how science or higher ed works.
Apart from being sinophobes, the people pushing this have no clue how science or higher ed works.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I'd guess that 85-90% of American scientists would be ineligible for future funding under this law, maybe close to 100% in the R1 universities. So much for funding proposals based on scientific merit.
Apart from being sinophobes, the people pushing this have no clue how science or higher ed works.
Apart from being sinophobes, the people pushing this have no clue how science or higher ed works.
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
“This represents saving higher education, saving public research and the standing up of faculty and staff and students”—AAUP, one of the parties that brought the case against the Trump administration
Judge Orders Trump Not to Threaten University of California’s Funding www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Judge Orders Trump Not to Threaten University of California’s Funding
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
“This represents saving higher education, saving public research and the standing up of faculty and staff and students”—AAUP, one of the parties that brought the case against the Trump administration
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
This order is a major win for students & academic freedom. The Trump–Vance admin tried to strong-arm the UC system and its faculty and staff into giving up their free speech rights — and they were stopped. Proud that AFT was part of the coalition that stood up
democracyforward.org/updates/cour...
democracyforward.org/updates/cour...
Court Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Gain Leverage and Political Control Over University of California System - Democracy Forward
democracyforward.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:02 AM
This order is a major win for students & academic freedom. The Trump–Vance admin tried to strong-arm the UC system and its faculty and staff into giving up their free speech rights — and they were stopped. Proud that AFT was part of the coalition that stood up
democracyforward.org/updates/cour...
democracyforward.org/updates/cour...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
A huge district court victory for the University of California.
District courts find facts. This one found "overwhelming evidence" that the Trump administration has pervasively violated the First Amendment in its efforts to coerce and intimidate the University of California.
News story here—
District courts find facts. This one found "overwhelming evidence" that the Trump administration has pervasively violated the First Amendment in its efforts to coerce and intimidate the University of California.
News story here—
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules
A federal judge ruled Donald Trump cannot demand that UCLA pay a $1.2 billion settlement that would have restricted academic freedoms.
calmatters.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 AM
A huge district court victory for the University of California.
District courts find facts. This one found "overwhelming evidence" that the Trump administration has pervasively violated the First Amendment in its efforts to coerce and intimidate the University of California.
News story here—
District courts find facts. This one found "overwhelming evidence" that the Trump administration has pervasively violated the First Amendment in its efforts to coerce and intimidate the University of California.
News story here—
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
We fight where we stand
Yes, and some of us WANT to stay and fight for the future of higher education in Texas! We are not giving up and we are not going away!!
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
We fight where we stand
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
"It is cruelty & political indoctrination. I'd need to tell my students that ‘What you came here to learn, I’m unable to tell you, because I’m restricted to tell you that information, even though such knowledge is available at every major university in this world.’"
— Leonard Bright, AAUP TAMU
— Leonard Bright, AAUP TAMU
Texas A&M Requires Approval for Courses That “Advocate” Certain Ideologies
Many faculty members decried the new restrictions on race- and gender-related courses as an assault on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the board also discussed a once-per-semester systemwide course revie...
www.insidehighered.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
"It is cruelty & political indoctrination. I'd need to tell my students that ‘What you came here to learn, I’m unable to tell you, because I’m restricted to tell you that information, even though such knowledge is available at every major university in this world.’"
— Leonard Bright, AAUP TAMU
— Leonard Bright, AAUP TAMU
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
"If anything, the response by university leaders may have brought to the fore what some of us suspected all along: Academic freedom is being eroded internally by university administrators & externally by politicians."
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
Commentary: Fearing Trump, universities themselves restrict academic freedom
Seven out of the nine universities that the Trump administration invited to offer feedback on the so...
www.macon.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"If anything, the response by university leaders may have brought to the fore what some of us suspected all along: Academic freedom is being eroded internally by university administrators & externally by politicians."
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
It really seems like this administration is trying to eliminate the field of public health. MPHs and DrPHs will no longer be considered "professional degrees" by the DOE and, therefore, will face limits to accessing federal student loans.
aspph.org/department-o...
aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
It really seems like this administration is trying to eliminate the field of public health. MPHs and DrPHs will no longer be considered "professional degrees" by the DOE and, therefore, will face limits to accessing federal student loans.
aspph.org/department-o...
aspph.org/department-o...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
NIH scientist Dr. Jenna Norton was just placed on nondisciplinary leave.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
NIH scientist Dr. Jenna Norton was just placed on nondisciplinary leave.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
She led a team who wrote a sign-on letter critical of The Regime.
A person at NIH asked to give a reason for her leave called her “radical leftist”; while the NIH Director has claimed that “dissent is productive”.
Yes, and some of us WANT to stay and fight for the future of higher education in Texas! We are not giving up and we are not going away!!
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Yes, and some of us WANT to stay and fight for the future of higher education in Texas! We are not giving up and we are not going away!!
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
Join us!
connect.aft.org/app/memberfo...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
🔔 Amy Ceritelli-Plouff, a sixth-grade world cultures teacher in North Texas: “When you study history, you look at prior conflicts and times in our history when there has been extremism and maybe too much government control or involvement in things; it starts with censoring + controlling education.”
Texas State Board of Education advisers signal push to the right in social studies overhaul
Texas State Board of Education advisers signal push to the right in social studies overhaul - The Texas Tribune
Some advisers have criticized diversity efforts, questioned the historical contributions of people of color, and promoted debunked beliefs.
www.texastribune.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
🔔 Amy Ceritelli-Plouff, a sixth-grade world cultures teacher in North Texas: “When you study history, you look at prior conflicts and times in our history when there has been extremism and maybe too much government control or involvement in things; it starts with censoring + controlling education.”
🚨”Today it’s Texas A&M. Tomorrow it will be every public university in a red state. The day after that, it will be private universities bowing to billionaire donors who want to reshape campuses in their own image. And after that, it will be K–12.”
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
Leaked Texas A&M Document Exposes a Chilling Blueprint for Silencing Race and Gender in Higher Ed
This Substack is reader-supported.
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
🚨”Today it’s Texas A&M. Tomorrow it will be every public university in a red state. The day after that, it will be private universities bowing to billionaire donors who want to reshape campuses in their own image. And after that, it will be K–12.”
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
"History professors Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral argue they should not have been arrested at the 1 May 2024 demonstration, where they were standing between their students and heavily armed law enforcement."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Texas professors arrested at campus protest sue university, alleging retaliation
Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral say UTD severely restricted campus access after arrests at peaceful protest
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
"History professors Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral argue they should not have been arrested at the 1 May 2024 demonstration, where they were standing between their students and heavily armed law enforcement."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
The college president has to approve each syllabus and there is a HOTLINE for students to report course content.
The new rules require presidential approval for courses that "advocate" race or gender ideology and ban material outside approved syllabi. Students can use a hotline to report course content. bit.ly/3XxszrC
November 13, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The college president has to approve each syllabus and there is a HOTLINE for students to report course content.
Reposted by Texas Conference of the AAUP
@tamu.bsky.social Faculty Council Says Professor’s Dismissal Violated Academic Freedom https://bit.ly/43v8DJA
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
November 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
@tamu.bsky.social Faculty Council Says Professor’s Dismissal Violated Academic Freedom https://bit.ly/43v8DJA
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd