Austin, October 1, 2025
News Summary
The University of Texas System is reviewing how gender identity is taught to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. This decision follows increased scrutiny on college curriculums across the U.S., particularly after a Texas A&M professor was dismissed over her teaching on the topic. The review results will be discussed at the upcoming Board of Regents meeting, as academic freedom and correct content alignment remain pressing issues. Statewide, other university systems are also taking actions related to this topic, prompting broader discussions about teaching rights.
Austin — The University of Texas System is initiating a review of how gender identity is taught across its institutions. The review aims to ensure compliance with state and federal law and alignment with the Board of Regents’ priorities, and results from the review will be discussed at the November Board of Regents meeting.
Key developments at the top
The decision to launch the review follows a period of heightened attention to campus course content and classroom discussions. This development follows increased scrutiny of college curriculums across the U.S., influenced by political changes, including President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. University officials say the review will assess syllabuses, course materials and classroom practices for consistency with published course descriptions and legal requirements.
Recent incidents prompting scrutiny
Recently, a Texas A&M professor, Melissa McCoul, was fired over her instruction regarding gender identity after a student questioned the legality of the content being taught in class. The incident leading to McCoul’s firing involved a secretly recorded video of her classroom discussion about a children’s book featuring a “gender unicorn” image. In the viral video, a student accused McCoul of teaching illegal content based on Trump’s executive order that recognizes only two genders.
Texas A&M officials claim McCoul was dismissed for not aligning her course content with the catalog description. McCoul’s attorney stated she plans to appeal her firing and potentially take legal action, asserting her course content was consistent with the catalog and that McCoul had taught similar courses successfully for years. State Representative Brian Harrison and other lawmakers publicly criticized the university for McCoul’s firing and shared details about corresponding emails and conversations related to the incident.
System-level and statewide actions
The Texas A&M System chancellor has ordered an audit of courses across all 12 schools in the system, which serves over 250,000 students. The audit aims to identify discrepancies between advertised course descriptions and classroom instruction and to prevent similar disputes in the future.
The Texas Tech University System has instructed its institutions not to teach that there are more than two genders to comply with state and federal laws. While there are no laws currently preventing educators from discussing race, gender identity, and sexual orientation in Texas public universities, a law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools took effect on September 1.
University leadership response and follow-up steps
The university’s president, Mark A. Welsh III, stated the dismissals of key administrators were due to approving content inconsistent with published course descriptions. In response, the university is undertaking a course offerings audit to avoid discrepancies in course content in the future.
Context and broader implications
Previous controversies at Texas A&M include the closure of the LGBTQ+ Pride Center and a suspended ban on drag shows that a judge ruled likely violated the First Amendment. The firing of McCoul has raised broader concerns about academic freedom and whether educators should be penalized for discussing politically sensitive topics in the classroom. Observers note parallels between current political pressures and historical episodes that constrained campus discussion and faculty rights.
What to expect next
- Findings from the University of Texas System review will be presented at the November Board of Regents meeting.
- The Texas A&M System audit will review course descriptions and classroom content across its 12 schools serving over 250,000 students.
- Legal challenges and internal appeals are possible as faculty, attorneys and lawmakers respond to recent dismissals and policy changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What review is the University conducting?
- The University of Texas System is initiating a review of how gender identity is taught across its institutions.
- What is the aim of the review?
- The review aims to ensure compliance with state and federal law and alignment with the Board of Regents’ priorities.
- When will the results be discussed?
- Results from the review will be discussed at the November Board of Regents meeting.
- What is the broader context for this action?
- This development follows increased scrutiny of college curriculums across the U.S., influenced by political changes, including President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
- What triggered recent scrutiny at Texas A&M?
- Recently, a Texas A&M professor, Melissa McCoul, was fired over her instruction regarding gender identity after a student questioned the legality of the content being taught in class.
- What audit did the Texas A&M System order?
- The Texas A&M System chancellor has ordered an audit of courses across all 12 schools in the system, which serves over 250,000 students.
- What instruction did the Texas Tech University System issue?
- The Texas Tech University System has instructed its institutions not to teach that there are more than two genders to comply with state and federal laws.
- Are there laws restricting discussion of gender identity at Texas public universities?
- While there are no laws currently preventing educators from discussing race, gender identity, and sexual orientation in Texas public universities, a law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools took effect on September 1.
- What specifically led to McCoul’s firing?
- The incident leading to McCoul’s firing involved a secretly recorded video of her classroom discussion about a children’s book featuring a “gender unicorn” image.
- What did the viral video allege?
- In the viral video, a student accused McCoul of teaching illegal content based on Trump’s executive order that recognizes only two genders.
- What reason did Texas A&M officials give for the dismissal?
- Texas A&M officials claim McCoul was dismissed for not aligning her course content with the catalog description.
- What is McCoul’s legal response?
- McCoul’s attorney stated she plans to appeal her firing and potentially take legal action, asserting her course content was consistent with the catalog and that McCoul had taught similar courses successfully for years.
- How have lawmakers reacted?
- State Representative Brian Harrison and other lawmakers publicly criticized the university for McCoul’s firing and shared details about corresponding emails and conversations related to the incident.
- What did university leadership say about administrative dismissals?
- The university’s president, Mark A. Welsh III, stated the dismissals of key administrators were due to approving content inconsistent with published course descriptions.
- What steps is the university taking to prevent future issues?
- The university is undertaking a course offerings audit to avoid discrepancies in course content in the future.
- Are there other controversies related to this topic at Texas A&M?
- Previous controversies at Texas A&M include the closure of the LGBTQ+ Pride Center and a suspended ban on drag shows that a judge ruled likely violated the First Amendment.
- What broader debate has this firing provoked?
- The firing of McCoul has raised broader concerns about academic freedom and whether educators should be penalized for discussing politically sensitive topics in the classroom.
Summary of key features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Review | The University of Texas System is initiating a review of how gender identity is taught across its institutions. |
| Aim | The review aims to ensure compliance with state and federal law and alignment with the Board of Regents’ priorities. |
| Timing | Results from the review will be discussed at the November Board of Regents meeting. |
| Nationwide context | This development follows increased scrutiny of college curriculums across the U.S., influenced by political changes, including President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. |
| Triggering incident | Recently, a Texas A&M professor, Melissa McCoul, was fired over her instruction regarding gender identity after a student questioned the legality of the content being taught in class. |
| System audit | The Texas A&M System chancellor has ordered an audit of courses across all 12 schools in the system, which serves over 250,000 students. |
| Statewide guideline | The Texas Tech University System has instructed its institutions not to teach that there are more than two genders to comply with state and federal laws. |
| K-12 law | While there are no laws currently preventing educators from discussing race, gender identity, and sexual orientation in Texas public universities, a law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools took effect on September 1. |
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Additional Resources
- KLTV: Texas Tech Chancellor Limits Academic Mentions of Transgender and Non-binary Identities
- NBC News: Texas A&M Fires Professor Over Gender Identity Lesson
- Statesman: UT System Audits Gender Courses
- Dallas News: University of Texas System Reviewing Gender Teaching
- Inside Higher Ed: Texas Ban on Transgender Course Content Sows Chaos
- Wikipedia: Gender Identity
- Google Search: Gender Identity
- Google Scholar: Gender Identity Education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gender Identity
- Google News: Gender Identity Texas Universities
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