Austin, TX

November 3, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karma Chávez, 480-586-5848, karmachavez@gmail.com

Polly Strong, strongpolly@gmail.com

AAUP at UT Austin Expresses Concerns about UT’s “Statement on Academic Integrity” 

The Executive Committee of the American Association of University Professors chapter at the University of Texas at Austin (AAUP @UT Austin) is pleased to see the University reaffirming its commitment to academic freedom, but finds certain aspects of the new “Texas Statement on Academic Integrity: Academic Freedom and Its Responsibilities” concerning. For example:

(1) The statement repeats unproven allegations that faculty are responsible for a public loss of trust in the University. We strongly object to this misrepresentation of the dedicated faculty at the University of Texas. We are committed to teaching in a way that respects our subject matter and our students alike. Faculty and courses are regularly evaluated by students, and student criticisms are taken seriously by our colleagues.

(2) The statement creates a false distinction between the classroom and the world that is out of step with best teaching practices. Faculty and students frequently apply course materials to “real world” situations. The University is a forum for discussing the most important issues of the day in a context that values evidence-based argumentation. Limiting the ability of faculty and students to apply course material to the world is not the path to excellence.

(3) It is not clear how this statement will be used or who will be responsible for interpreting it. Our concern is that it could be used to sanction faculty because they have different views about what is balanced instruction on “disputed matters” and “unsettled issues,” or what content is “germane” to a course. According to AAUP principles, faculty should make these determinations. However, in the absence of an elected Faculty Council, we have no assurance that a faculty member, if accused of violating the statement, will receive due process. The statement contributes to a climate of fear that is not conducive to high quality education.   

“I am glad to see that the President’s appointed committee is invested in the freedom to teach and learn,” noted Chapter President, Karma Chávez. “But since UT has already affirmed this commitment for decades, I worry that this statement serves to target faculty who teach in the most ‘controversial’ fields, such as ethnic and gender studies.” 

“Although higher education nationwide is under political attack, UT’s reputation is strong, as evidenced by another year of record applications and our continued rise in national and international rankings,” commented Chapter Past President, Polly Strong. “That is because our faculty already have integrity and have responsibly employed academic freedom to teach students to understand their fields in a current and sophisticated manner. This statement is a solution in search of a problem.” 

We urge the University of Texas to affirm confidence in our world-class faculty’s excellent teaching and to reaffirm the right of faculty to determine what is relevant to leading-edge teaching in their areas of expertise. This is at the heart of the AAUP’s concept of academic freedom.  

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Founded in 1915, the American Association of University Professors has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities. The AAUP chapter at UT Austin works to advance this mission through advocacy, organizing, and education. Officers speak for themselves as private individuals.