Overview

• Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III fired Melissa McCoul after a student’s video of a dispute over teaching gender identity in a children’s literature class spread online.
• Welsh framed the decision as enforcing catalog compliance, saying the class contained material inconsistent with approved course descriptions.
• McCoul, through her attorney, contends her syllabus aligned with the catalog, says she was never told to change it, and has appealed while exploring legal action.
• The university also removed College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Zoran and English department head Emily Johansen from their posts over similar course-content concerns.
• Republican officials urged stronger action, with Gov. Greg Abbott backing removals and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick faulting Welsh’s handling, while the Board of Regents launched course audits and the DOJ Civil Rights Division signaled a review.