New students enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin can no longer major in studies focusing on Africans and the African diaspora, Mexican Americans and Latinos, or women and gender.
Until recently, faculty at UT-Austin played a formal role in reviewing academic programs and jobs before they got cut. But a new state law allowed for the University of Texas System, a network of schools that includes UT-Austin, to overhaul that process.
The system’s policy now gives campus presidents wide discretion in determining whether to cut a program. Reasons could include cost, student demand or whether the offering aligns with the university’s mission.
Professors cannot appeal the decision.
The elimination of the majors comes as Texas universities succumb to political pressure from Republican leaders who want to restrict how public K-12 schools and colleges teach race, gender and sexuality.