A new wave of state laws and institutional policies is constraining classroom content and faculty governance, advocacy groups and campus reports say. PEN America’s review found 2025 set records for state higher‑education censorship laws; more than half of U.S. students now attend institutions in states with at least one law or policy restricting teaching or campus operations. Those laws include gag orders, restrictions on DEI, and new oversight of syllabi and instructional materials. At the institution level, Texas A&M’s systemwide course‑review policy has led to canceled classes, the removal of assigned readings, and faculty pushback over vague definitions of “advocacy” and “controversial content.” Administrators say the reviews are meant to ensure compliance with state rules; faculty leaders say the changes chill classroom discussion and academic freedom. Legal challenges and union responses are likely to expand as more systems and states pursue similar oversight.