LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – New guidelines for the more than 14,000 courses offered at Texas Tech are getting pushback from several organizations serving as advocates for the LGBTQ community.
Texas Tech System leaders are working to be more efficient with these new course guidelines. The driving force behind these changes has been Texas Senate Bill 37, written by Chancellor Brandon Creighton last year, when he was in the Texas Legislature.
The law requires state curriculum to serve as the foundation for a student’s future, particularly in the workforce. It states classes may “not endorse specific public policies, ideologies, or legislation.”
The Academic, Clinical, and Student Affairs Committee of the Texas Tech Board of Regents identified about 60 courses that needed alteration. Lubbock LGBTQ advocates say the decision targets conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation.
“Free speech on campus doesn’t quite feel so free at the moment,” said Jay Pettit, a member of the Lubbock chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, also known as PFLAG.
Pettit said the recent course changes are creating a climate of fear in faculty and staff at Texas Tech, fear of speaking up about it or fear of misunderstanding the guidelines.
“There’s so much like, is this going to be the thing that a student objects to? Am I going to face disciplinary actions for even bringing this up?” Pettit said.
Pettit says the changes make him feel like he’s losing his footing with TTU.
“It feels very strange to come into work every day or to sit down in a classroom knowing that based on the memo, people like me aren’t supposed to exist,” Pettit said. “It does, even if it’s not said out loud, like if I’m not feeling like I’m allowed to talk about my experience.”
Chancellor Creighton says respecting academic freedom has been at the center of the content review.
“The process has respected the First Amendment,” Creighton said.
Creighton said people from all backgrounds are welcome in the Texas Tech System and are encouraged to engage in a public forum. He says there’s no better place to see that than on the Tech campus.
“You can walk across our campuses today and see the diversity,” Chancellor Creighton said. “You can see how welcome everyone is.”
Creighton said this is a requirement from the state to ensure students are ready to step into the workforce.
“At the end of the day, we have to have a process. We have to review curriculum to make sure that it’s relevant, that the rigor is there, and that it’s tied to the expectation of the highest degree of value. Now, we’re accomplishing exactly that,” Creighton said.
Creighton believes the workforce will change over the next five years and universities need to be ready for it.
“Those that are not spearheading these changes in the marketplace and expectations, [even] universities of the greatest reputation in the nation will fall behind,” Creighton said. “The opportunities for those to emerge and lead in these different ways to keep up with the changing pace of our economic sectors will elevate in such impressive ways. It’s going to be validated by our future students, our adult learners, and the families that are supporting them.”
Pettit says while Texas Tech is trailblazing, it’s doing so in uncharted territory and in an unclear manner.
“I think there’s so much gray area and unknowns with these changes,” Pettit said. “Not only is it affecting the curriculum, but the general climate of fear has made it somewhat of a hostile environment, both for LGBTQ-identified students and also allies in the community.”
Pettit says fear of these changes will likely affect a student’s experience in the classroom.
“Even if those topics are still sort of addressed or you’re modifying the way that they’re addressed in the classroom, the level of detail and thoroughness might not be to the same level that it would have been prior to the memo,” Pettit said.
The confusion surrounding the new standards is extending into the area of research, as well.
“It’s caused a sort of scholarly traffic jam,” Pettit said. “Everything is suddenly on pause while people are waiting to see what exactly these changes are going to mean and what those changes will mean to them as a department or as an individual scholar.”
However, the chancellor wants to assure people: the system is using the course review to ensure funding provided by tuition and taxpayers, is being used as efficiently, as possible.
“If we find any inefficiencies, or any ways where that is unfair to students, almost offering them something that they won’t find to be as valuable, whenever they’re finished with their journey in higher education. Certainly, what the expectations will be of those, they will soon be interviewing with, what a disservice that would be. So, we’re looking out for everyone,” Creighton said.
Pettit says when it comes to the money used within the system, every dollar should be viewed as equal.
“I would like to think that my taxpayer money is as equally valuable as everyone else’s,” Pettit said. “I also know that myself and many other students are paying significant amounts of tuition dollars. And, if this is something that they want to research and are invested in, both with their finances and also with their time and energy, I would argue that they’re valuable topics too.”
Chancellor Creighton said the memo sent out on April 9 is only the first step the TTU System is taking to provide a future-focused classroom. He said the review of content will be an evolving process and he welcomes additional input.
“Our doors are open for all input, and we’ve really worked hard to foster that type of culture and environment all the way through the process itself. So, we’re going to continue on that front. We’re going to continue to evolve and make changes that meet the needs of those that are blessed enough to be on our campuses and that we’re fortunate enough to have them here,” Creighton said.
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