The change is part of a recently passed law that could potentially limit classes based on ‘leftist ideologies’ and focus on skills needed in the job market.
Texas is moving to enforce bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in universities and potentially restrict college courses focused on gender and race.
The move reflects an effort by the Trump administration and red states to reshape higher education by steering it away from what they deem to be left-wing ideologies.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment of Texas’s first higher education ombudsman, Brandon L. Simmons, on Oct. 16 as part of state Senate Bill (SB) 37, which became law on Sept. 1.
Abbott has accused some educators of spreading political ideologies instead of supporting basic education.
In an Oct. 19 post on X, Abbott said a University of Texas professor was dismissed from an administrative position overseeing university academic affairs because of ideological differences.
“Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation,” he wrote. “We must end indoctrination and return to education fundamentals at all levels of education.”
The announcement follows broader national efforts to move higher education from progressive ideologies that the Trump administration said created discrimination and undermined meritocracy, with President Donald Trump issuing executive actions and threatening to cut funding over DEI practices.
Similarly, while states such as Texas, Florida, Alabama, and North Dakota have passed laws against DEI hiring practices in higher education, some universities have resisted the changes required by these laws.
Texas SB 37 reshapes governance in public higher education by moving authority on certain hiring and curricular decisions from faculty to governor-appointed boards. The law enables university regents to reject courses they find misaligned with state workforce needs, a main objective of the new approach.
Texas state Rep. Matt Shaheen, a Republican who sponsored the House version of the bill, told The Epoch Times via text that while regents in other states have some authority over the hiring process, SB 37 gives regents the direct ability to approve or deny hiring.
“We’ve seen ridiculous courses at some of our universities that don’t add any value and exist for indoctrination purposes only. I passed SB 37 to stop these childish courses,” he said.
The ombudsman office can investigate DEI practices banned under SB 17, passed in 2023, as well as issues related to SB 37. Also, it can recommend funding cuts for violators, directly affecting compliance and institutional resources.
