Conservatives Targeting Gender Studies Programs in Little Rock

Republican lawmakers in Arkansas have successfully pressured the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to eliminate its gender studies minor and other programs described as having low enrollment as a condition for passing the institution’s annual budget.

The budget for the university was refused three times by representatives during the May 2026 fiscal legislative session. Lawmakers conditioned the approval of the funding on the removal of the gender studies concentration.

Legislative Pressure and Budgetary Conditions

Rep. Ryan Rose, a Republican representing Van Buren, had sought the elimination of these programs for several years. Rose characterized gender studies programs as being ideologically driven and divisive.

The use of budget approvals to mandate curriculum changes is part of a broader effort by conservatives to reshape public institutions of higher education in Arkansas. According to reporting from ArkTimes, these lawmakers have used the power of the purse to target programs they associate with left-wing indoctrination.

Following the university’s agreement to cut the gender studies minor and other low-enrollment programs, the budget immediately passed through both the House and the Senate.

University Response

A spokesperson for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock issued a statement acknowledging the decision to remove the academic programs.

UA Little Rock is committed to initiating the process of eliminating academic minor programs that are not viable due to low enrollment, including the gender studies minor. We thank the Arkansas House of Representatives for their support in passing the university’s budget and for its continued investment in higher education.

The university’s concession followed sustained pressure from Republican lawmakers who threatened to withhold funding unless the specific academic changes were implemented.