Texas universities

The Texas governor expects an action plan later this week, saying he doesn’t see “any reason” visa holders should be employed in schools.

As students return to colleges and universities across the state, questions remain regarding discussions of gender and race on Texas campuses. Faculty with the Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University systems are dealing with the impact of new policies on their class curriculums, as West Texas A&M continues to face legal challenges to its drag performance ban.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board office of the Ombudsman has opened a new website where people can report alleged violations of state law in colleges and universities.

Following the Dec. 1 memorandum from Texas Tech University System Chancellor Brandon Creighton, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent letters to each of the five presidents within the Tech system, calling upon them not to restrict academic freedom or classroom instruction based on viewpoint.

The Select Committees on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were formed days after Kirk's assassination on a Utah college campus. Members assembled Thursday in Austin for their first meeting to assess state free speech laws.

The new race and gender policy has garnered condemnation from educational rights advocates, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which sent a letter to the board of regents earlier this week arguing that the policy amounted to censorship.

University officials dispute the faculty council's conclusion. Melissa McCoul lost her job after a video of a classroom debate went viral.

Some students and professors say recent changes and scandals chill speech at universities. Others argue that conservative opinions can now be shared more freely.

A federal judge temporarily blocked parts of the law, which limits "expressive activity" on college campuses.

The new law, called the "Campus Protection Act," requires student groups to get the university's permission before inviting guest speakers to campus, among other restrictions. Students have raised concerns that these changes limit their free speech.