CODE MAROON at Texas A&M: Protect academic freedom and reject political control

To: President Tommy Williams and the Texas A&M Board of Regents

We are Aggies Forward, a community of alumni, students, faculty, staff, and allies in Texas and across the country who care deeply about the future of Texas A&M University. 

We write to you because the decisions you make in the coming weeks and months will determine whether our university continues to be a national leader in research, teaching, and service, or whether it enters a period of decline marked by diminished trust, damaged reputation, and reduced academic competitiveness.

Texas A&M is one of the most distinguished institutions in the nation. It is one of only 24 land-, sea-, and space-grant universities, one of only three Tier-1 research universities in Texas, and number one among Texas public and private universities in total research spending. These achievements are possible only when academic freedom is protected and when teaching and research are guided by evidence, expertise, and the professional judgment of faculty.

That foundation is now in jeopardy. Recent administrative rules requiring ideological review and approval of certain course content represent a dramatic departure from the norms that have governed leading research universities for generations. Such policies centralize authority over teaching in the hands of political appointees and create an environment in which faculty feel pressure to conform to specific viewpoints rather than pursue open inquiry.

This approach does not strengthen Texas A&M. It weakens it. It endangers faculty recruitment and retention, undermines the confidence of students and parents, and signals to the broader academic community that intellectual independence is no longer secure within the A&M System.

This is not the legacy of General James Earl Rudder, Class of 1932, who led the university with courage, transparency, and a commitment to excellence. Nor is it compatible with the Aggie Honor Code, which calls on every Aggie to uphold integrity, truthfulness, and personal responsibility.

This is a CODE MAROON moment. The fundamental values that have earned Texas A&M national respect are being tested. When core academic principles are at risk, silence is not leadership, and inaction is not neutrality. The Aggie community expects its leaders to act decisively in service of the institution’s long-term health and integrity.

A university is strongest when its governance respects the roles of its faculty and students, when academic expertise is trusted, and when decisions are made in a manner that reflects the core values that define this community.

Therefore, we respectfully urge you to take the following steps to protect the future of Texas A&M:

Aggies across the state and nation want Texas A&M to succeed. We want to see our university attract world-class scholars, empower students, and uphold its reputation as a place where truth is pursued without fear or interference.

The decisions now before you are consequential. We ask that you act with the courage, clarity, and respect for academic independence that this moment demands.

Onward,

Aggies Forward