University Upholds Lecturer's Termination
Texas A&M University has confirmed it will not reinstate Melissa McCoul, a lecturer who was dismissed in September following controversy over her teaching about gender identity in a children's literature class. This decision comes despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously finding that her termination lacked justification.
Interim university president Tommy Williams referred the matter to the university system, where vice chancellor for academic affairs James Hallmark stated in a December 19 memo that McCoul's September dismissal was supported by "good cause." Hallmark provided no further explanation for this determination.
McCoul's attorney, Amanda Reichek, verified these developments. In a statement, Reichek wrote: "Dr. McCoul is disappointed by the University's unexplained decision to uphold her termination, but looks forward to pursuing her First Amendment, Due Process, and breach of contract claims in court very soon."
Origins of the Controversy
The situation began when a student secretly recorded a classroom discussion during the summer semester. The student disagreed with McCoul's position on whether teaching about more than two genders was legally permissible. This student also secretly recorded a meeting with then-university president Mark Welsh III, who initially resisted calls to dismiss the lecturer.
State Representative Brian Harrison later posted these recordings on social media platform X. Although no law prohibits instruction acknowledging more than two genders, Welsh eventually terminated McCoul after the videos generated significant conservative criticism, claiming her teaching did not align with the course description. Welsh subsequently resigned from his position.
Broader Policy Changes
Following McCoul's dismissal, the Texas A&M University System initiated reviews of courses across its twelve institutions, employing artificial intelligence tools in this process. On December 18, the Board of Regents approved a new policy restricting courses from "advocating race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity" except in specific non-core or graduate courses that undergo review and receive presidential approval.
Two separate faculty panels have determined that McCoul's termination was unjustified and violated her academic freedom. These panels concluded the university dismissed her based on her teaching content and failed to follow proper dismissal procedures.
Wider Educational Impact
The Texas A&M controversy, combined with new legislation expanding governor-appointed regents' authority over curriculum, hiring, and campus expression, has prompted significant changes throughout Texas higher education. Multiple university systems have launched course audits and implemented new restrictions on how race, gender, and sexuality are addressed in academic settings.
Chris Bryan, the system's vice chancellor of marketing and communications, confirmed McCoul would not be reinstated but declined to provide additional commentary on the matter.
