Jacob Howland, the provost at the University of Austin, focuses on a curriculum steeped in Western civilization, while Pauline Strong, an anthropology professor at UT Austin, advocates for Indigenous studies. They discuss the rise of conservative-backed institutes promoting Western civics at universities and debate the implications for traditional education norms. The conversation navigates the complexities of identity in curricula and emphasizes the importance of fostering respectful discourse in academia amidst changing political landscapes.
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insights INSIGHT
Fragmented Curriculum
Universities lack a cohesive curriculum, resembling branches lopped off a tree.
Education should answer "Where have you been and where are you going?"
insights INSIGHT
Diverse Educational Experiences
Students at large universities like UT Austin have diverse educational experiences depending on their major.
However, they all take core courses covering critical thinking, cultural diversity, and global cultures.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shifting Campus Discourse
Jacob Howland recalls openly expressing views in college without self-censorship.
He contrasts this with the current climate where students and professors feel unable to express opinions freely.
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Evicted
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Over the past decade, centers and institutes devoted to the study of Western civilization and American civics have popped up on numerous public university campuses. Typically backed by conservative lawmakers, versions of this concept have taken root at universities in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. In Texas, an entirely new private university, the University of Austin, now offers students a curriculum steeped in the study of Western thought.
At a recent live taping at SXSW EDU, Jack Stripling, host of College Matters, talked with Jacob Howland, the University of Austin’s provost, and Pauline Strong, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, about what this growing trend says about the politics of higher education.
Jacob Howland, provost and dean of intellectual foundations at the University of Austin
Pauline Strong, director of the Program in Native American and Indigenous Studies and a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. Strong is president of the American Association of University Professors' chapter at UT Austin.
For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.
College Matters from The Chronicle 
