Texas State System Disbands Faculty Senates: What This Means for Professors and Campus Governance

Professors in the Texas State University System are facing a significant change in how they participate in decision-making on campus. A new state law, Senate Bill 37, allows for the dissolution of existing faculty senates. These senates have traditionally given professors a voice in important matters like curriculum and faculty hiring.

This law is part of a trend by Texas Republican lawmakers to gain more control over public universities. They have had ongoing conflicts with faculty, particularly on issues such as tenure and academic freedom. Under the law, boards of regents must either restructure faculty senates or let them be abolished by September 1. The Texas State University System has opted for the latter, leading to a lapse in faculty representation as they have allowed current senates to dissolve.

In response, other institutions like Texas A&M and the University of Houston are taking steps to maintain their faculty senates. They are actively restructuring to meet the new requirements before the deadline. Mark Criley from the American Association of University Professors notes that this kind of restructuring can create challenges. He expresses concerns that administrations could manipulate newly formed senates to project a false sense of faculty support.

Faculty members are apprehensive about these changes. Joseph Velasco, a professor at Sul Ross State University, points out that dismantling the senates—even temporarily—can disrupt the flow of shared governance in universities. He believes that this could also lead to a loss of experienced voices in important discussions.

Under SB 37, new faculty senates will look quite different. University presidents will now appoint all officers and can select up to half the members. This raises concerns about who will be in these important roles. Professors worry this could lead to decisions being made by less experienced or less informed faculty members.

Senate meetings will have stricter transparency requirements, such as broadcasting when a majority is present and providing agendas a week in advance. However, the law does allow for the removal of members based on vague criteria about their participation and conduct, which further raises concerns.

Some faculty senates have voiced opposition in recent years. At Stephen F. Austin State University, faculty members expressed discontent over administrative decisions, while over 500 professors at the University of Texas at Austin signed a petition calling for their then-president’s removal due to controversial actions during protests.

In contrast, some faculties, like those at the University of North Texas, aim to maintain a smooth relationship with their administration while adapting to the new law.

As this situation unfolds, the changes in Texas may shape how faculty engage with their universities for years to come. The implications stretch beyond Texas, prompting broader discussions about academic governance across the country.

For a deeper look into Senate Bill 37 and its potential impacts, you can refer to the full text here.

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