Troy University: Professor Disciplined for Writing to State Lawmakers

In April 2026, Troy University Professor Micah Swartz sent a letter to Alabama legislators criticizing the state’s lack of transparency in the review process for undergraduate math curricula, which he argued made faculty review of proposed syllabi unmanageable. Swartz identified himself as a Troy professor but wrote in his personal capacity and did not claim to speak for the university. Troy nevertheless issued him a written warning for “Unauthorized Communication,” alleging he had improperly represented the university without authorization. Weeks later, the university issued a second written warning after Swartz shared his letter with students on Canvas under the subject line, “The Letter that got me in trouble,” directing him not to share communications with state officials or to discuss his own disciplinary matter with students.

On June 25, FIRE wrote Troy explaining that the First Amendment protects public university professors who speak as private citizens on matters of public concern—including communications with elected officials about higher education policy—and that universities may not punish faculty for sharing their own protected speech or discussing their own disciplinary records.