Texas launched an Office of the Ombudsman website to accept public complaints against the state’s public colleges and universities, implementing a new oversight mechanism created by Senate Bill 37. The portal will notify named institutions within five days and give colleges 175 days to respond, creating a formal complaint-and-response timeline for alleged violations of SB 37’s DEI ban and other provisions. Governor Abbott appointed Brandon Simmons as ombudsman; he pledged collaborative campus outreach. The office arrives after a series of high‑profile incidents in Texas—faculty removed or asked to alter course content—and signals enhanced state capacity to investigate and press colleges on curriculum, hiring and faculty governance.
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