New poll shows Americans losing faith in higher ed

Key concerns highlighted in a recent poll include radical indoctrination, political bias among professors, and the rising cost of college degrees. Notably, there’s a mention of Harvard’s largely liberal faculty, which raises questions about the objectivity of education.

The University of Texas at Austin has decided to halt new enrollment in three majors centered on gender, sexuality, and race. This decision is being perceived by many conservatives as a significant win.

Students applying to UT Austin will no longer find options for Women’s and Gender Studies, Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, or African and African Diaspora Studies in their majors. This decision follows a trend as various universities are reassessing similar programs amid internal discussions at UT Austin regarding the future of theirs.

“In response to changes in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, the University has ceased enrolling new students in these three majors,” a university spokesperson explained. “Therefore, these majors have been removed from the admissions applications to prevent new enrollments in evolving programs. However, students currently in these majors will still be able to complete their degrees,” the statement detailed.

LIBERAL FACULTY STILL HUGELY OUTNUMBER CONSERVATIVES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: REPORT

Timur Kuran, a professor at Duke University, commented, “I don’t know the specifics of UT Austin’s programs, but this news isn’t surprising. Ethnic and sexuality studies have, over the years, been influenced significantly by political agendas,” noting that he anticipates other state and even private universities to follow suit.

The declining enrollment in these areas has been part of a larger debate, although UT Austin hasn’t officially cited this as a cause for the enrollment halt. Earlier reports indicated that the total enrollment across these programs was merely 307, which is less than 1% of the roughly 44,315 undergraduates at the university during Fall 2025.

UT Austin, being among the largest in the country, has faced increasing pressure from Republican authorities regarding its approach to sensitive issues like race and gender. The University of Texas System is evaluating gender identity courses to ensure they align with state laws and the priorities set by the Board of Regents.

Interestingly, an internal email acquired by the Austin American-Statesman suggested that while these majors may be on a path to elimination, many of the courses involved could remain in a different format, potentially consolidating them into a single offering.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES TITLE VI INVESTIGATION INTO DEI PROGRAMS AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Lisa Moore, chair of women’s and gender studies at UT, remarked, “Gender and ethnic studies have reshaped humanities and social sciences, and it’s a reality we can’t ignore. It simply isn’t valid to suggest that only a tiny fraction of humanity is responsible for the world’s positive contributions.”

From a conservative perspective, the outlook on these fields is markedly different. Steve McGuire, from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, described the discontinuation of these majors as “the pedagogically responsible thing to do.”

“It’s excellent news. These programs don’t promote viewpoint diversity; they represent a misguided leftist perspective that doesn’t belong in educational institutions,” J.D. Haltigan, a research fellow, articulated, calling for the complete abolition of such programs across all higher education establishments.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES STRIPPING TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FROM SCHOOLS USING RACE-BASED PROGRAMS

This development seems to resonate with many on the right, signaling a potential shift in educational direction. “Every red state should follow suit with their universities,” suggested independent scholar Varad Mehta on X.

Several universities in conservative states have already made similar reductions. Institutions like Texas A&M University, Wichita State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Toledo have also taken steps to phase out comparable programs.

UT Austin did not respond to inquiries made by Fox News Digital on Friday.