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Public universities face escalating involvement from state lawmakers
Lawmakers and political appointees are taking more authority over curricula, hiring and discipline as faculty influence weakens across several states.
- The Auburn Board voted unanimously to dissolve the school's Faculty senate, granting Trustees ultimate authority over academic decisions and curriculum without public discussion.
- Since last year, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah have enacted laws empowering politically appointed boards while weakening tenure protections and Faculty influence over curriculum and university leadership.
- Iowa lawmakers mandated undergraduate students take American history and government courses through the Center for Intellectual Freedom, while Utah passed legislation allowing students to request exam exemptions based on "sincerely held" beliefs.
- Hank Reichman, professor emeritus at California State University, East Bay, warned that boards are increasingly chosen for political loyalty, and that political agendas extend beyond gender studies to interference in medicine and other sciences.
- Experts suggest both parties view higher education with suspicion and seek increased control, even as a 2022-23 survey found nearly 56% of Faculty describe themselves as liberal, compared with about 13% who are conservative.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left12Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution92% Left
Bias Distribution
- 92% of the sources lean Left
92% Left
L 92%
Factuality
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