A new policy that bars faculty at Texas A&M universities from advocating race or gender ideology has raised concerns about academic freedom and the use of AI to audit courses, a political science professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio said this week.
“I think it is very problematic,” Daniel Braaten, president of A&M-San Antonio’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said of the policy approved last month by the A&M System’ Board of Regents.
Faculty members at all 12 A&M campuses cannot advocate race or gender ideology in their classes without prior approval from their campus president, the board decided Nov. 13.
Regents voted unanimously to adopt the new academic review policy requiring syllabus submissions and AI-assisted course oversight across the entire Texas A&M system.
“No university in the country does that. That’s a clear violation of academic freedom,” Braaten, an associate professor of political science, said in an interview Dec. 2.
The policy also prohibits advocating for what it defines as certain topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity unless preapproved by campus leadership, aiming to ensure courses align with approved content.
Braaten, who stressed that his comments were strictly his own views and did not reflect A&M-San Antonio or the AAUP, said faculty members need clear guidance about the new policy, especially if a course is flagged.
“What happens?” he said. “Do you just change your syllabus? Do you get in trouble?”
On Dec. 4, A&M-San Antonio Provost Mohamed Abdelrahman emailed the university’s deans and chairs with a list of responses created by the AI system to address recurring questions about the new policy.
A&M system, regents cite accountability, transparency as reasons for policy
Regents said the goals are to improve accountability and make sure classes are teaching and not advocating. The Texas A&M University system will conduct its new academic review and transparency initiative to check every undergraduate course each semester.
The initiative began after A&M in College Station fired Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer of English, when a student recorded her lecture that included a discussion of gender identity. The recording caused public controversy and pressure on the system to increase oversight of what is taught in the classrooms.
Regents said the new review is intended to enhance trust, increase transparency and ensure that courses align with students’ expectations.
Under the new policy, professors must submit a detailed syllabus and class description before each semester. Any content that deviates from the approved syllabus or standard instruction may be flagged for review or revision. The system will use artificial intelligence to evaluate course materials and identify classes with unclear educational value or content that does not align with university standards.
Robert Albritton, chair of the Board of Regents, said at the Nov. 13 meeting that the initiative is to build “trust and transparency” with the students, faculty and administrators.
The first set of results from the new review will be shared with the board in spring 2026, and the process will become a regular part of academic oversight.
As part of the initiative, the system office will launch a confidential reporting portal where students can submit concerns about course content. System officials will review the reports and notify campus leaders when needed.
During the meeting, 10 professors from the main A&M campus in College Station spoke about the initiative and the new policies, raising concerns about how the changes could affect teaching and academic freedom.
Nancy Plankey-Videla, associate professor of sociology, questioned how the policy defines “race ideology” and “gender ideology” and where the line lies between teaching and advocating.
Plankey-Videla said she needs to discuss gender and racial inequality so students understand those issues and are prepared to excel in future careers that include law, nursing, education and law enforcement.
“If we muzzle faculty, the reputation of A&M will fall precipitously,” she said.
Leonard Bright, professor of government and public service, said rules not only bypass faculty consultation but also place sweeping restrictions on the discussion of race and gender.
“The proposal would restrict experts from discussing bona fide facts, the history of slavery in America, the difference between gender and sex, and the importance that LGBTQ+ individuals be treated with dignity and respect,” he said.
Joan Wolf, a sociology professor, said the new policy blurs the line between explaining a concept and advocating for it, arguing that faculty should be able to teach gender and race without seeking prior approval.
“My job is not to teach you what to think. Nobody should tell you what to think; my job is to teach you how to think,” Wolf said.
Not all professors opposed the changes. Two faculty members said they supported parts of the new rules included in agenda item 4.2, which outlines academic content requirements.
Adam Kolasinski, a professor in finance, said he believed some criticism stemmed from misunderstanding.
“I think my colleagues are confused because maybe they didn’t read the policy,” Kolasinski said.
This story was updated Dec. 7, 2025, to clarify the title of Daniel Braaten.
