University of Texas System Ends New Enrollment in Gender, Race-Focused Majors

The University of Texas at Austin has ceased new student enrollment in three majors: Women's and Gender Studies, Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, and African and African Diaspora Studies. A university spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating that the majors have been removed from admissions applications to prevent new students from enrolling in programs undergoing changes.

Students currently pursuing these majors will still be able to complete their degrees. The university has not officially cited low enrollment as the reason for discontinuing new admissions, but internal data reported earlier in the year indicated a low number of students across these and related ethnic studies programs, representing less than 1% of the undergraduate population.

The decision comes amid increased scrutiny from Republican officials at both state and federal levels regarding the university's handling of race and gender-related subjects. The University of Texas System has been reviewing courses on gender identity to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and alignment with the Board of Regents' priorities.

While new enrollment is halted, much of the coursework may continue through consolidated offerings. This move has been met with approval from some conservative commentators, who view it as a positive development for institutions of higher learning. However, faculty within these departments have expressed concerns about the potential loss of established academic fields.

This development at UT Austin is part of a broader trend, with other universities in various states, including Texas A&M University, Wichita State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Toledo, having also scaled back or eliminated similar programs in recent times. The actions follow previous proposals, such as the Trump administration's consideration of stripping tax-exempt status from schools utilizing race-based programs.