A significant number of faculty members at Texas A&M University-Victoria have resigned following the implementation of a new mandate requiring full-time instructors to be physically present on campus for eight hours daily, five days a week. The policy, which took effect in late June for the fall semester, has resulted in canceled classes and significantly reduced staffing in several departments.
Teresa Klein, president of the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors, described the situation as chaotic and noted that the directive has caused distress among staff. She reported that some faculty members quit due to caregiving responsibilities, including a new mother who stated she could not be separated from her child and others managing elderly relatives who cannot manage the commute.
The mandate requires faculty to maintain a 40-hour workweek on campus for in-person interaction with students and colleagues. A provost’s email indicated that failure to comply could lead to discipline, up to termination. Klein noted that approximately 72 percent of the university's faculty reside in the Houston area, which is roughly two hours away, while others live as far as San Antonio.
University officials defended the policy in a statement, asserting that flexibility does not exempt employees from accountability. They emphasized that the Texas A&M University System holds staff to high standards and that the rule aligns with Senate Bill 2615 and system policy.
The administration stated the goal is to support a freshman class that is 23 percent larger than the previous year by ensuring an active campus environment.
Senate Bill 2615, which took effect in September 2025, restricts telework for public higher education faculty but does not explicitly mandate a 40-hour on-campus week. The bill was authored by Brandon Creighton, who served as a state senator before becoming the Texas Tech University System Chancellor. As of late August, no other campuses within the Texas A&M system have adopted similar rules.
