The Indiana Commission for Higher Education added a civics‑oriented question to its new degree‑proposal form that asks programs to demonstrate how they 'cultivate civic responsibility and commitment to the core values of American society.' Faculty leaders say they were not consulted and call the change an intrusion on academic freedom that could politicize program approvals. The commission confirmed the question will be required for all forthcoming program approvals and reviews but offered limited definition of 'core values.' Critics equate the move with national political initiatives pressuring higher‑education curricula and warn it could chill curricular experimentation and interdisciplinary programs. University administrators and faculty governance bodies in Indiana will now face a novel approval criterion that may complicate new-degree development and spark legal and reputational pushback.