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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The law requires state curriculum to serve as the foundation for a student\u2019s future, particularly in the workforce. It states classes may \u201cnot endorse specific public policies, ideologies, or legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFree speech on campus doesn\u2019t quite feel so free at the moment,\u201d said Jay Pettit, a member of the Lubbock chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, also known as PFLAG.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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?\u201d Pettit said.<\/p>\n
Pettit says the changes make him feel like he\u2019s losing his footing with TTU.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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\u2019t supposed to exist,\u201d Pettit said. \u201cIt does, even if it\u2019s not said out loud, like if I\u2019m not feeling like I\u2019m allowed to talk about my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chancellor Creighton says respecting academic freedom has been at the center of the content review.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process has respected the First Amendment,\u201d Creighton said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s no better place to see that than on the Tech campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can walk across our campuses today and see the diversity,\u201d Chancellor Creighton said. \u201cYou can see how welcome everyone is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Creighton said this is a requirement from the state to ensure students are ready to step into the workforce.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, we have to have a process. We have to review curriculum to make sure that it\u2019s relevant, that the rigor is there, and that it\u2019s tied to the expectation of the highest degree of value. Now, we\u2019re accomplishing exactly that,\u201d Creighton said.<\/p>\n
Creighton believes the workforce will change over the next five years and universities need to be ready for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose that are not spearheading these changes in the marketplace and expectations, [even] universities of the greatest reputation in the nation will fall behind,\u201d Creighton said. \u201cThe 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\u2019s going to be validated by our future students, our adult learners, and the families that are supporting them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pettit says while Texas Tech is trailblazing, it\u2019s doing so in uncharted territory and in an unclear manner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s so much gray area and unknowns with these changes,\u201d Pettit said. \u201cNot 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pettit says fear of these changes will likely affect a student\u2019s experience in the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if those topics are still sort of addressed or you\u2019re modifying the way that they\u2019re 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,\u201d Pettit said.<\/p>\n
The confusion surrounding the new standards is extending into the area of research, as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s caused a sort of scholarly traffic jam,\u201d Pettit said. \u201cEverything 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we find any inefficiencies, or any ways where that is unfair to students, almost offering them something that they won\u2019t find to be as valuable, whenever they\u2019re 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\u2019re looking out for everyone,\u201d Creighton said.<\/p>\n
Pettit says when it comes to the money used within the system, every dollar should be viewed as equal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to think that my taxpayer money is as equally valuable as everyone else\u2019s,\u201d Pettit said. \u201cI 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\u2019re valuable topics too.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur doors are open for all input, and we\u2019ve really worked hard to foster that type of culture and environment all the way through the process itself. So, we\u2019re going to continue on that front. We\u2019re 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\u2019re fortunate enough to have them here,\u201d Creighton said.<\/p>\n
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