'Surveilled by the state': Arkansas professors are concerned about political interference
A majority of college faculty in southern states, including Arkansas, are concerned about political interference and are considering leaving academia, according to a new American Association of University Professors survey.
The new study, which received responses from more than 2,900 individuals, highlighted dissatisfaction with the political atmosphere surrounding higher education, with about 70% rating it poor or very poor.
Nearly 57% of respondents said they would not encourage out-of-state colleagues to seek employment in their current state, while 27% are considering interviewing elsewhere in the coming year.
These findings are a “wake-up call for policymakers and administrators” and emphasize the need to address faculty members’ concerns, according to an AAUP press release.
“Failure to do so may result in a significant brain drain and a decline in the quality of higher education in these states,” the release states.
The survey, conducted Aug. 14 to Sept. 1, used social media and email to distribute questionnaires, which garnered responses from faculty members in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Twelve of Arkansas’ 43 respondents reported applying for jobs outside the state since 2022. Their biggest reason for searching elsewhere was the state’s broad political climate, followed by problems with salary; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies; academic freedom and LGBTQ+ issues.
“Our work is surveilled by the state,” one Arkansas respondent said. “There are intimidation tactics that come both from the state and then from admin and other faculty. This has an impact on the kinds of discussions we are able to have in class and via events — it stifles discussion and that leaves our students unfamiliar with issues that are crucially important and very complex.”
Faculty names were not included in the survey results.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said after taking office in 2023 that she wanted to be known as the education governor. One of her first steps toward that goal was backing the LEARNS Act, a 2023 law that overhauled the state’s K-12 education system. Sanders has said she wants to turn her attention to institutions of higher education during the 2025 legislative session. One survey respondent said “everyone is on edge” because the governor is targeting higher ed.
Arkansas survey participants also voiced concerns about issues of free speech. They cited feeling pressure not to voice opinions about state government or discussing DEI-related issues. One respondent said faculty have been warned about discussing DEI because students have reported faculty to the governor.
Arkansas senator promises to kill DEI at state higher-ed institutions
Sanders signed an executive order on her first day in office that prohibits the “indoctrination” of public school students with ideologies like Critical Race Theory, or CRT. The theory is typically not taught in K-12 schools in Arkansas. The language of the executive order is mirrored in the LEARNS Act.
“There is a fear of reprisal around teaching issues of equity in race and sexual identity,” a tenured Arkansas professor said. “It feels to me that university leaders are trying to keep the institution from being targeted by conservative politicians by preemptively eliminating DEI initiatives on campus.”
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville announced plans to reallocate staff and resources from its Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion last June. A few months later, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, requested a legislative study of DEI policies at the state’s universities and colleges.
Last week Sullivan renewed his promise to introduce legislation next year targeting DEI at the state’s colleges and universities. He told the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Higher Education subcommittee he would model his legislation after bills passed in Florida and Texas.
Sullivan has said decisions such as college admissions should be based on need and merit, not someone’s ethnicity or gender. When questioned by lawmakers last October, representatives from six Arkansas universities said their DEI efforts support the recruitment and retention of students from various backgrounds and do not include lowered admission standards for certain groups.
Another issue cited by Arkansas survey respondents was the challenges caused by a state boycott, divestment and sanction (BDS) law supporting Israel.
“My state and university’s stance on Palestine and BDS makes it very difficult to bring guests to campus because they have to sign agreements to not support BDS,” one faculty member said. “Additionally, the university didn’t defend Arab and Arab American scholars on campus from bigoted colleagues, which creates a hostile culture, especially for junior and marginalized faculty who want to engage issues related to Palestine and social justice at large.”
Approximately 27% of all respondents said they do not plan to stay in academia long term.
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