Texas A&M University Cancels Programs in Women’s and Gender Studies Amid Broader Policy Shift
COLLEGE STATION, TX — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the academic community, Texas A&M University announced on Friday, January 30, 2026, that it is shuttering its undergraduate and graduate programs in women’s and gender studies in Texas A&M University. The decision, part of a sweeping overhaul of the university’s curriculum, also includes the cancellation of several undergraduate courses and the modification of hundreds of others to comply with a rigorous new system-wide policy governing the instruction of race, gender, and sexual orientation.
Interim President Tommy Williams cited a combination of low student enrollment, cost considerations, and the need to align with a November 2025 Board of Regents policy as the primary drivers behind the move. The policy effectively prohibits any teaching that advocates for “race or gender ideology” without prior administrative approval.
The End of an Era in Texas A&M University: Shuttering Women’s and Gender Studies
The decision to eliminate the women’s and gender studies degree program marks the first time Texas A&M University has completely dissolved an entire interdisciplinary program under the new guidelines. The university offered a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, an undergraduate minor, and a graduate certificate in the field.
According to Texas A&M University data, the program currently serves 25 majors and 31 minors. While no new students will be admitted into these tracks, officials confirmed that current students will be given six semesters—roughly three years—to complete their degrees before the program is officially retired.
“The decision to end the women’s and gender studies program was based in part on limited student interest,” the university stated in an official release. “This process is designed to protect academic integrity and ensure our resources are focused on high-demand disciplines.”
However, faculty members like Ira Dworkin, an associate professor of English and vice president of the campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), condemned the move as “devastating.” Critics argue that the enrollment numbers used by the administration do not reflect the hundreds of students from other departments who take gender studies courses to fulfill elective requirements or to enhance their primary fields of study.
A “Chilling” Review: 5,400 Syllabi Under Scrutiny
The cancellation of the program in Texas A&M University is the centerpiece of a massive academic audit. Following a viral incident in late 2025 where a student confronted a professor over gender identity content, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents mandated a review of every syllabus offered on the flagship campus.
In total, 5,400 course syllabi were examined. The results of this review led to:
6 Full Cancellations: Undergraduate courses in the Bush School of Government and Public Service, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were pulled from the schedule.
Hundreds of Modifications: Faculty members were instructed to reword, renumber, or remove content deemed to advocate for specific “ideologies.”
Executive Review: 54 courses were flagged for direct review by President Williams; while 48 were eventually granted exceptions, the remaining six were terminated immediately.
The canceled courses include:
Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
Ethics in Public Policy
Religions of the World
Diversity in Sport Organizations
Cultural Leadership and Exploration for Society
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Youth Development Organizations
Political Pressure and Academic Freedom in Texas A&M University
The changes at Texas A&M University have not occurred in a vacuum. They follow years of mounting pressure from conservative lawmakers in the Texas Legislature. State Representative Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, hailed the decision as a victory for taxpayers.
“The era of woke activism training camps funded by ordinary taxpayers is over,” Harrison stated, echoing sentiments that universities should focus on workforce development rather than “leftist propaganda.”
This shift is largely attributed to Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), which banned DEI offices at Texas public universities, and a subsequent November 2025 system policy that gave regents more control over curriculum. Critics of the university’s response, including PEN America, argue that the institution is “running roughshod over academic freedom” by allowing political figures to dictate what can be discussed in a classroom.
| Perspective | Argument |
| University Administration | Programs are being cut due to low enrollment and the need to comply with state law and system policies. |
| Faculty / AAUP | These cuts represent political interference and an unprecedented attack on the “marketplace of ideas.” |
| State Lawmakers | The university is fulfilling its duty to protect students from “indoctrination” and focus on practical education. |
The Fallout: Faculty Concerns and Student Reactions in Texas A&M University
The atmosphere on the College Station campus has been described as “unsettling” by faculty leaders. Many professors report a “chilling effect,” where they are proactively self-censoring their course materials to avoid being flagged by the administration or targeted by social media campaigns.
Last Thursday, hundreds of students and faculty gathered on campus to protest the changes, arguing that the elimination of these programs robs the student body of the ability to engage with complex social issues.
“They have reduced this marketplace of ideas to promoting only a certain view when it comes to race and gender,” said one student speaker during the rally. “We came to Texas A&M to be challenged, not shielded from history and sociology.”
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What’s Next for Texas A&M University?
The university has made it clear that this is not the end of the restructuring. The Board of Regents is expected to review low-performing academic programs across all 12 campuses in the system during their upcoming quarterly meetings.
As the “winding down” process begins for women’s and gender studies, the university remains under intense scrutiny from both the federal Department of Justice—which has opened inquiries into previous faculty terminations—and national academic accreditation bodies, which require institutions to maintain a level of independence from political control.
For now, the university maintains that its priority is its students. “Our shared responsibility is clear: our students,” Williams said. “We will continue to provide a relevant, personalized education while adhering to the policies set forth by the state and our regents.”
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