A flurry of state‑level actions is reshaping faculty governance: Texas A&M’s new course‑review process led to the cancellation of a graduate class after administrators said it violated a policy banning advocacy of race or gender ideology; across other states, boards and legislatures are tightening post‑tenure review standards and dictating teaching loads. Critics say such measures undermine academic freedom and place administrators in the role of content reviewers; proponents call them necessary accountability reforms responsive to legislative concerns. Universities are confronting legal and operational challenges as they balance statutory compliance with academic autonomy. The changes include tightened syllabus mandates, expanded administrative course scrutiny and stepped‑up performance reviews for tenured faculty — all of which carry implications for curriculum design, faculty recruitment and institutional reputation. University leaders must navigate political pressure while defending principles of shared governance and curricular discretion.