Texas Tech faculty say Republican anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum rules are driving professors away

New Texas Tech University guidelines eliminating references to sexual orientation and gender identity from coursework forced nearly half of surveyed faculty members to make changes they described as harmful to their curricula.Survey results released by the school’s Faculty Senate showed broad disapproval among educators regarding a memo issued by the university’s chancellors last year.About 50 percent of faculty reported altering their curriculum as a result of the memos, with 25 percent of those saying they were specifically directed by administrators to change their course content. Although the guidelines were intended to exempt ongoing research and service activities, the survey found that 7 percent of faculty were asked to alter their research in response to the new guidelines, and another 18 percent chose to do so.Related: Texas Tech University bans teaching, researching LGBTQ+ topicsThe survey found that only 10 percent of faculty at the school felt the guidelines had a positive impact on their coursework.The policies appear to be contributing to a significant faculty retention problem, with many instructors considering leaving the institution altogether.“The Chancellors’ Memos had a negative impact on faculty retention, with 46% concerned about their tenure and/or promotion, and 52% considering jobs at other universities,” according to a memo released by the Faculty Senate. “When asked about implementation of the Chancellors’ Memos, only 30% of faculty thought expectations from upper administrators were clear, while only 34% felt supported by upper administrators.”Some of the comments submitted in the survey offered more blunt assessments.“I will be leaving my job in the coming months because of this, I cannot and will not work at a place like this and I will tell my network to not come here (students and faculty),” read one remark.Texas Tech University officials outlined the changes earlier this year and in April formally implemented a ph