Those who live in the world of higher education may not know why faculty senates exist or what they do. AFN turned to Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation for an explanation.
According to Sylvester, the concept of a faculty senate on college campuses had its roots in the 1940s after WWII and the GI Bill, when colleges and universities were collecting government money. Faculty members, she explains, stepped forward demanding they play a role in government the school.
"They wanted a seat at the table – but then they decided they wanted the whole table," says Sylvester. "The one at the University of Texas has over 100 members. They have a committee on committees; and they feel that they should be involved in every aspect of university life from selecting the president of the university [and] all the deans to defining the curriculum of the university and what is taught."
The Texas Tribune reported on Friday that the Texas State University System is eliminating its faculty senates by allowing their authorization to lapse on September 1. That report says the system's board of regents plans to approve new faculty senates at its next regularly scheduled meeting in November.
Sylvester explains that faculty senates have controlled narratives at schools and in the last 20 years have pushed diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including the belief that universities are rooted in "white supremacy." She talked about a recent piece of related Texas legislation.
"Senate Bill 37 restores the boards of regents to their role of running the universities," she says. "The Texas Founders who wrote the constitution put gubernatorial-appointed people in charge of the universities – so there needs to be some oversight from the outside world. This restores their role in selecting the leadership of the university and in reviewing the curriculum. It also makes very clear that Faculty Senates do not have that power."
SB 37 also limits faculty senates to a maximum of 60 members.
The legislation is authored by Republican State Senator Brandon Creighton (District 4), who has described SB 37 as a "bold step" in returning the state's public colleges and universities to their core mission: "Education, not indoctrination."
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed SB 37 on June 20. It becomes effective on September 1.
