Texas A&M Regents Cut 52 Programs Including LGBTQ+ Studies Minor Amid Faculty Opposition

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has issued a directive to its flagship university to discontinue an LGBTQ+ studies minor, one of many programs deemed as “low-producing” as per new criteria established for enrollment, as reported by

CBS Austin

. This action is part of broader measures that saw 52 minor and certificate programs being tagged for elimination after a unanimous vote by the board. The decision has been met with opposition from the faculty, who feel their role in curriculum decisions is being overridden.

According to

CBS Austin

, the cutting of these programs comes following accusations from conservative lawmakers and websites that claimed the minor program in LGBTQ+ studies was promoting “liberal indoctrination.” Faculty members, however, dispute the validity of the data used to label these programs as low-producing, and dozens voiced their concerns at the board meeting. Angie Hill Price, a professor and speaker of A&M’s Faculty Senate, conveyed the unprecedented nature of the board’s actions, “This has never happened before,” said Angie Hill Price. “We have no precedent for a board to decide [to end academic programs] over the wishes of faculty and the president which they deemed low-performing,” Angie added.

The determinations for these program cuts are based on enrollment thresholds outlined by A&M administrators, wherein minors and undergraduate certificates are required to graduate at least 10 students in two years and must maintain an enrollment of at least five current students.

KBTX

details that the impact will be felt across a diverse range of subjects including LGBTQ Studies, Geophysics, and Maritime Studies for minors, and Cultural Competency, Cybersecurity Engineering, and Health Systems Management for certificates.

Board members, including Robert Albritton, refuted claims that the elimination of the LGBTQ Studies minor was politically motivated, arguing that the board has a fiduciary responsibility to address programs with low enrollment. Yet, faculty members argue that the decision-makers may lack a comprehensive understanding of how departments manage enrollments for these minor and certificate programs. Theresa Morris, who contributed to the creation of the LGBTQ Studies minor stated in a prior press release, “The symbolism of having this minor means something — particularly to the students who have these identities.” Morris added, “It’s like a formal recognition by the university that this is important, and that can mean a lot to the people who feel that their experience has been peripheralized by society,” as stated by

CBS Austin

.

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