The American Association of University Professors announced it is investigating alleged academic freedom and shared governance violations across Texas public colleges and universities, citing statewide political interference affecting how faculty can teach, govern, and protest. AAUP national President Todd Wolfson said the issues have accelerated in the past nine months, with the investigation expected to examine the implementation of Texas Senate Bill 37 and related state actions. Wolfson said the probe will consider restrictions on faculty freedoms, limits on campus speech and protest, and increasing governing board intervention in academic affairs. Senate Bill 37, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott last June, restructures faculty councils and senates by limiting creation to governing boards and placing key officers under presidential appointment power. AAUP members also point to faculty governing bodies being placed under university presidents’ control and the potential for presidents to appoint half of council members, arguing this undermines faculty self-governance. AAUP said the investigation could result in public censure of university administrations and highlight violations that cannot be addressed solely through case-by-case responses, positioning Texas as a focal point for national shared governance oversight debates.