Texas Tech University: Psychology Course Cancelled After Instructor Refused to Alter Any Course Content

On Dec. 1, 2025, the Texas Tech University System issued a memo ordering a mandatory review of any faculty course materials pertaining to race or sex. That same day, Will Crescioni, a psychology lecturer at Texas Tech, submitted his entire honors-level psychology course for review, reasoning that those topics may come up spontaneously throughout the course. After extensive discussion with his department where Crescioni stated that he would not alter his course content, Texas Tech cancelled the course. On Feb. 10, FIRE wrote Texas Tech, urging it to refrain from unilaterally cancelling courses because the courses deal with topics that administrators believe are objectionable. On March 17, Texas Tech University System General Counsel Eric Bentley responded, requesting that FIRE stop writing the university  about these issues because the system has the obligation to “set and control the curriculum in a manner it deems necessary to comport with its mission, comply with federal and state law, and retain federal and state funding.” FIRE replied on May 7 arguing that no federal or state law can authorize the system to violate the First Amendment.