Brian L. Evans, PhD, aaup.texas@gmail.com, 512-516-5991
President, Texas AAUP-AFT Conference, AFT Local 8041A

The Texas Senate Higher Ed Subcommittee will hold its third public hearing this year on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, 9am-5pm on the future of faculty senates and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

We’d like to invite you to testify with us in person on Nov. 11th. When testifying, you would speak for yourself as a private citizen using your First Amendment Rights. One the day of the hearing, we’ll provide logistical support and advice at the Capitol. For those who can’t make it to the Capitol, there are opportunities to advocate through calling Legislative offices and giving feedback on testimonies. With Texas AFT, we’ll provide training and coordinate talking points for our two-minute testimonies:

Higher-Ed in the Interim: Teach-In and Advocacy Training, Thursday, Nov. 7th, 6pm, RSVP to aaup.texas@gmail.com

The Texas Senate Higher Ed committee holds hearings between the biennial Legislative sessions to gather information concerning bills they are planning to file. The next session begins January 14, 2025.  Here’s more info on the next session.

Here’s more information about the topics for the Nov. 11, 2024, hearing taken from the 2024 Texas Senate Higher Education Interim Charges:

• Higher Education – “Faculty Senates”: Review and analyze the structures and governance in higher education, focusing on the role of “faculty senates,” and like groups, in representing faculty interests to higher education institution administrations. Make recommendations to establish guidelines for the role and representation of faculty by “faculty senates”,and like groups, at higher education institutions in Texas.
• Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce: Examine programs and certificates at higher education institutions that maintain discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Expose how these programs and their curriculum are damaging and not aligned with state workforce demands. Make recommendations for any needed reforms to ensure universities are appropriately educating students to meet workforce needs.
• Improving K12-College Pathways: Review the availability of Advanced Placement and dual credit course offerings in high schools and examine the transfer requirements required for students to receive higher education course credit. Identify the current challenges to streamlining the transfer process, including adequate counseling for high school students. Make recommendations to ensure students receive credit for successful completion of these courses.

Our advocacy is amplified by teaming with Texas AAUP, AAUP, Texas AFT, AFT, Texas Association of College Teachers, Texas Council of Faculty Senates, Texas Faculty Association, Texas Faculty Coalition, Texas State Employees Union, Black Brown Dialogues on Policy, Texas Students for DEI, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and other orgs. AAUP is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, and Texas AAUP is affiliated with Texas AFT.