Key Takeaways
- A faculty committee at Texas A&M University found that the university did not have good cause to fire English professor Melissa McCoul over a video of her discussing gender identity.
- The committee rejected the university’s reasons for firing McCoul, including failing to perform her duties, violating policies, and acting unprofessionally.
- The university failed to investigate and did not follow its own policies, and the committee found that McCoul was not given due process.
- The incident has triggered restrictive curriculum policies and reviews at Texas A&M and other university systems across the state.
- McCoul’s attorney plans to pursue First Amendment, due process, and breach of contract claims in court if the university does not reinstate her.
Introduction to the Incident
The controversy surrounding Melissa McCoul, an English professor at Texas A&M University, began when a student secretly recorded her discussing gender identity in a summer class. The video was posted online by state Rep. Brian Harrison, who has used his social media platform to pressure universities to remove course content he finds offensive. The video sparked a political backlash, and Texas A&M ultimately fired McCoul, citing reasons that included failing to change her course content to align with the catalog description. However, the university’s decision has been met with criticism, and a faculty committee has now found that the university did not have good cause to fire McCoul.
The Committee’s Findings
The Committee on Academic Freedom, Tenure and Responsibility, an eight-member panel, held a full-day hearing on November 3 and issued its findings to Interim President Tommy Williams on November 18. The committee reviewed the university’s reasons for firing McCoul and unanimously rejected each one, finding that the university failed to investigate, did not follow its own policies, and never proved the allegations used to justify her dismissal. The committee also found that McCoul was not given due process, as university administrators are required to meet with an instructor and notify them when a dismissal is being considered, but this was not done in McCoul’s case.
The University’s Response
Texas A&M administrators have stated that they are aware of the committee’s findings and that Williams will review the report carefully before making a decision. However, the university’s statement also noted that the committee’s findings are non-binding, leaving the decision on McCoul’s fate uncertain. McCoul’s attorney, Amanda Reichek, has stated that her client is pleased with the committee’s findings and is waiting to see if Williams will reinstate her. If not, Reichek plans to pursue First Amendment, due process, and breach of contract claims in court, arguing that the firing was a result of political pressure and not based on any legitimate reasons.
The Broader Implications
The incident involving McCoul has triggered a wave of restrictive curriculum policies and reviews at Texas A&M and other university systems across the state. The Texas A&M Board of Regents has approved two new policies, one requiring campus presidents to sign off on any course that could be seen as advocating for "race and gender ideology or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity," and the other prohibiting faculty from teaching material inconsistent with the approved syllabus for each course. Additionally, administrators have announced that courses will be audited every semester using artificial intelligence. These developments have raised concerns about academic freedom and the role of politics in shaping university curricula.
The Future of Academic Freedom
The controversy surrounding McCoul’s firing has highlighted the importance of academic freedom and the need for universities to protect their faculty’s right to teach and research without fear of political reprisal. The incident has also sparked a broader debate about the role of politics in shaping university curricula and the impact of restrictive policies on academic freedom. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether McCoul will be reinstated and what the long-term implications will be for academic freedom at Texas A&M and beyond. The Texas Tribune’s partnership with Open Campus on higher education coverage will continue to provide updates and insights on this developing story.
