Indiana’s higher‑education commission added questions about “commitment to the core values of American society” to the state review form for proposed degree programs, a change that university faculty leaders say was adopted without meaningful consultation and could curtail academic freedom. The commission says the requirement aims to promote civic engagement and citizenship within curricula before approving new degrees. Faculty and AAUP leaders called the provision vague and politically charged, warning it could be used to block interdisciplinary or critical‑perspective programs. The move echoes broader state and federal efforts to tie program approvals and funding to specified civic or ideological criteria, raising governance and curriculum‑freedom questions for public institutions.