The University removed the Core U.S. History designation from three courses last semester due to their “narrow topical focus,” according to emails obtained by the Texan.

According to the emails, the University began a review of history courses last fall based on four standards: the “breadth and foundational approach expected for Core Curriculum offerings;” if they were taught by faculty with the “appropriate expertise;” whether the courses were “consistent with the Core Objectives;” and whether the courses provided “a general education perspective” as opposed to a “highly specialized or narrowly focused approach.” 

The courses that had their U.S history designation removed are Power and Place in Making Texas History, taught by Edmund Gordon; History of the Southeast Asian Diaspora in the U.S., taught by Kevin Gibbs; and South Asian Migration to the U.S., taught by Mohit Mehta, according to emails obtained by the Texan.

All three courses, according to the emails, lost their core status due to both “narrow topical focus(es)” and concerns about “faculty expertise.” 

Neither Gordon nor Mehta responded to multiple requests for comment.

Gibbs, an assistant instructor in the Department of English, said the removal was disappointing. After his course lost its core status, the course had low enrollment and was canceled for the semester.

“I had been looking forward to teaching the course,” Gibbs said. “I was upset learning that the U.S. History Core requirement had been removed because I think (the course) is very much part of U.S. history.”

In an email sent to William Inboden, executive vice president and provost, on Sept. 28, 2025, Juan Dominguez, interim senior vice provost for academic affairs, explained that the changes are also being made to align with Senate Bill 37, which gave universities further oversight over curriculum.

“With the establishment of new leadership at our University, this is an important opportunity to ensure that the Core aligns with your vision and that we prepare the ground for the installation of a new, SB 37 compliant, core curriculum advisory committee,” Dominguez wrote. 

Dominguez also wrote in an Oct. 6, 2025 email that there will be an appeals process for courses that have lost their core status once such a committee was established.

The University requires six hours of classes in United States History, which must be fulfilled by classes with the 060 Core U.S. History designation. Other courses with the 060 Core U.S. History requirement include courses like “History of Mexican Americans in the United States” and “America and the Holocaust.” 

Dominguez informed his colleagues about the core curriculum review in October 2025, about two weeks before President Jim Davis announced the Core Curriculum Task Force on Oct. 16, 2025. The task force was entrusted with proposing changes to the core curriculum and “identify(ing) gaps in quality, rigor, or intellectual cohesion,” according to the announcement.

A university spokesperson wrote in a statement that schools can assess their programs regularly based on many factors. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board wrote in a statement to the Texan that the University can choose to take away the Core designation on any course, but it will remain on the “core curriculum inventory” until the next reporting period. 

“Institutions choose if, when, and how often to offer courses,” wrote THECB.

Catharine Li contributed to this report.