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Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedom | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 10:13 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Faculty Advocacy Groups Alarmed by Texas A&M’s Firing: Academic Freedom Under Threat?
(Houston Public Media, 16 September 2025)

The recent dismissal of a Texas A&M University (TAMU) professor has ignited a firestorm among faculty advocacy groups across the state. The university’s decision, made under the auspices of a controversial new faculty policy, has spurred fears that academic freedom—a cornerstone of higher‑education inquiry—is being eroded in Texas’s flagship public institution.

The Incident That Sparked the Outcry

In late August, the TAMU School of Liberal Arts announced that Dr. Maria Ortega, an associate professor of political science, had been terminated effective September 1. Ortega had been teaching “The Politics of Texas: Power, Protest, and Policy” for the past two semesters. The course, which blended analysis of Texas’s constitutional history with contemporary examinations of the state legislature’s policy moves, included a segment on the Texas Senate Bill 2 (commonly known as the “Texas Education Reform Act”) and its implications for public universities.

TAMU’s Office of the Provost cited “failure to adhere to the Department’s academic standards” as the reason for the dismissal. However, a press release issued by the university’s communications office quickly added that the decision had been made in response to a formal complaint filed by a member of the Texas Senate, alleging that the professor’s “public commentary” was “disparaging to the state’s leadership.”

The timing—just weeks after a new state‑wide “Academic Freedom” policy was announced by Governor Greg Abbott—raised immediate concerns among faculty groups about the potential for political pressure to shape classroom content.

Voices from the Faculty Advocacy Community

The Texas Faculty Assembly (TFA), a statewide coalition representing educators at public institutions, released a statement that evening expressing “deep concern” over the firing. The TFA spokesperson, Dr. Steven Ramirez, emphasized that the university had “not followed due process” and that the decision “signaled a chilling effect on scholarly inquiry.”

The TAMU faculty union—part of the Texas A&M University Faculty Association (TAUFA)—also issued a strong condemnation. “Academic freedom is not a negotiable benefit; it is the bedrock of higher education,” said TAUFA President Dr. Lillian Nguyen. “The dismissal of Dr. Ortega for her teaching content sets a dangerous precedent that may make other professors hesitant to address contentious issues in the classroom.”

These voices echo broader concerns expressed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), which has repeatedly warned that the new policy could “undermine the ability of faculty to pursue independent research and instruction.” The Board’s recent statement also urged public institutions to safeguard faculty rights “in accordance with Texas law and constitutional protections.”

The University’s Response

In an interview with the Texas A&M News Office, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Dr. Kenneth Wu, defended the decision as a “necessary step to maintain the academic integrity of our programs.” He emphasized that the university had followed internal procedures, including a “review of the professor’s course materials, lecture recordings, and student evaluations.” Wu added that the university would “continue to uphold its commitment to academic freedom while ensuring that faculty conduct aligns with state and federal regulations.”

The Provost’s office also pointed to a new faculty policy released earlier this year—“Policy on Professional Conduct and Academic Responsibility”—which, according to the university, provides a clearer framework for evaluating content that “may be deemed controversial.” The policy, however, has been criticized by legal scholars for its vague language, which could give administrators broad discretion to dismiss faculty members.

Legal and Historical Context

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of shifting policy around academic freedom in Texas. In 2022, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 1, which introduced a “student choice” provision that requires colleges to allow students to opt out of courses that could be considered “discriminatory.” Critics argued that the bill effectively coerces faculty to avoid certain topics.

More recently, Texas Senate Bill 1, signed into law in 2024, introduced a new “Academic Freedom” clause that defines a professor’s rights and responsibilities but also imposes a “public accountability” requirement. Under the new law, universities must report faculty conduct to the state Board of Education. The bill’s language has been a flashpoint for faculty advocacy groups, who argue that it opens the door for political actors to influence academic content.

The Broader Implications for Texas Higher Education

The TAMU incident is not isolated. In 2023, a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin faced disciplinary action after integrating LGBTQ+ issues into a sociology lecture—a case that garnered national attention. The Texas A&M University dismissal adds a new dimension to an ongoing debate about whether state policies are being used to stifle dissenting viewpoints on campus.

Academic freedom watchdog groups—including the Texas Center for Academic Freedom (TCAF)—warn that if faculty feel pressured to self‑censor, the quality of higher‑education instruction could suffer. Dr. TCAF director, Professor James Lee, noted that “when faculty are afraid to engage with controversial or unpopular ideas, research quality deteriorates, and the public loses a vital resource for critical thinking.”

The situation has also caught the attention of the National Association of Universities and Colleges (NAUC), which released a report highlighting the trend of “policy‑driven academic freedom challenges” in Texas. The report calls for a review of state legislation to ensure that universities retain the independence necessary for scholarly inquiry.

Follow‑Up Resources

For those interested in the policy details, Texas A&M’s own “Academic Freedom” policy can be found on the university’s website under the Office of the Provost. The Texas Faculty Assembly’s statement is available on the TFA website, which also hosts a series of webinars discussing faculty rights. Additionally, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board published a brief on the legal framework governing faculty conduct in 2024, which provides context for the university’s decision.

A Call to Action

The faculty advocacy community is calling on state lawmakers to reconsider the scope of the newly enacted policies. They urge the Texas Senate and House to amend Senate Bill 1 to provide clearer protections for faculty, and to remove ambiguous language that could be interpreted as a pretext for dismissals.

In the words of Dr. Maria Ortega, who has not yet spoken publicly but has been quoted in an earlier interview, “Teaching is not about pushing a political agenda; it’s about equipping students with the tools to question the status quo. If I’m silenced for that, it’s not just my career on the line—it’s the future of academic inquiry in Texas.”

As the debate continues, all eyes will remain on Texas A&M and the state’s higher‑education institutions, watching to see whether a fragile balance between accountability and academic freedom can be maintained in an increasingly politicized climate.