Texas A&M University will immediately terminate its women’s and gender studies degree program and revise or cancel related courses as part of a new system-wide academic policy restricting how race and gender topics are taught. The move reflects growing efforts in Texas to reshape campus curricula around core educational priorities and accountability.
Interim President Tommy Williams and other university leaders announced the closure of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, including its bachelor’s and graduate offerings, minors, and certificates. Administrators cited limited student interest and alignment with new Texas A&M System policies as key reasons for the decision, alongside a broader review of more than 5,400 course syllabi to ensure compliance with the updated standards.
Under the new rules, faculty may not advocate what the system describes as “race or gender ideology” unless approved exemptions are granted for certain graduate-level or non-core classes. As part of the review, six courses were canceled, and 48 were granted exemptions. University officials said current students in the program will be allowed to finish their degrees under a “teach-out” plan over the next six semesters, but no new enrollments will be permitted.
Supporters of the policy frame it as an effort to reinforce academic integrity, restore public trust, and focus university resources on programs with clear student demand. Williams said the policy ensures that academic offerings reflect core educational priorities and prepare graduates for success in their careers.
Critics, including faculty members and free speech advocates, argue the policy threatens academic freedom, amounts to censorship, and undermines intellectual inquiry. Hundreds of students and faculty have reportedly protested on campus, asserting that the restrictions will chill classroom discussion and limit exposure to important cultural and social perspectives. Professors have described instances of self-censorship and concern about enforcement of the new rules.
The decision comes amid broader national debates over academic programs focused on race, gender, and sexuality, as lawmakers and university systems reassess course content and curriculum priorities. Similar cuts and consolidations at other institutions reflect tensions between traditional higher-education models and demands for ideological conformity or freedom in classroom instruction.
Texas A&M’s move marks a significant shift at one of the largest public universities in the United States, with implications for how public higher education addresses controversial cultural subjects and balances academic freedom with state policy direction.
