Texas Tech Limits Course Content on Race and Gender
Students in affected subject areas should expect possible changes to course materials and program offerings at the university.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Higher Education
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Texas Tech University has implemented policies restricting how faculty may teach about race, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, following directives issued by Chancellor Brandon Creighton in December 2025 and April 2026. The second directive calls for phasing out academic programs centered on these topics, a change that matters for students enrolled in or considering those majors across the state.
Why it matters
The restrictions shape which courses and course materials students at Texas Tech can expect, and they have already prompted faculty uncertainty about what is permissible to teach. Creighton has said policy decisions should center on what benefits students and workforce development, and the directives reflect state legislation he authored that expanded university governing boards' curriculum authority.
Two chancellor directives, issued in December 2025 and April 2026, set the permitted classroom content and call for phasing out academic programs centered on race, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Senate Bill 37 from 2025 gave university governing boards expanded curriculum authority, and an earlier draft that would have barred core courses from teaching concepts related to systemic inequality was removed before passage.
The players
Texas Tech University System
A large public university system in Texas whose governing board oversees Texas Tech University and its campuses.
Brandon Creighton
The chancellor of the Texas Tech University System since November 2025, and the former Texas state senator who authored Senate Bills 17 and 37.
The details
Creighton issued the restrictions through directives from the chancellor's office, and the university system's policies go beyond what state statute requires. Faculty have had to revise course materials to fit the directives, and some have kept discussing the policies with students even after administrators told them not to. For students, that means course content in affected areas may change, and some programs in these subject areas may be phased out over time.
Timeline
November 2025: Brandon Creighton was appointed chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
December 2025: Creighton issued the first directive restricting faculty classroom content.
April 2026: Creighton issued a second directive calling for the phasing out of affected academic programs.
Education Landscape
The directives extend Senate Bill 17, Creighton's 2023 law that banned diversity offices at Texas public universities while leaving classroom instruction untouched. Senate Bill 37 from 2025 then expanded governing boards' authority over curriculum, setting up the chancellor's move from administrative restrictions into course content.
Students at Texas Tech who are enrolled in or considering programs centered on race, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation should ask their department or academic advising office which courses and programs are affected and whether any are being phased out. Questions about how these changes affect degree completion or transfer credit are best directed to the university's academic advising office.
The takeaway
Course content and degree options at Texas Tech may change as the chancellor's directives take effect, so students in affected areas should confirm current requirements with their academic advisers. Watching for announcements on which programs are phased out will help families plan ahead.
Further reading
For more on how state rules shape college classrooms, see Higher Education coverage across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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