AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Monday's hearing of Texas senators tasked with legislating higher education brought a showdown between state government and student government -- students and professors, testifying in defense of self-government on college campuses as the state senate considers reigning in faculty governing councils. 'Faculty senates' consist of elected professors who represent their colleges or fields in making academic policy decisions, like curriculum. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tasked lawmakers with reviewing that practice and considering ways to "establish guidelines for the role and representation of faculty by 'faculty senates,' and like groups, at higher education institutions in Texas." State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican and Chair of the Higher Education subcommittee, hinted at concerns that faculty make political decisions out-of-step with state law. Professors denied that assumption and argued that faculty senates are important for campus communities to make their own decisions. "Many faculty like myself are bewildered as to why faculty senates have become an enemy of the state of Texas that warrant legislation or warrant legislators to create proposals that will silence and even dismantle them," Dr. Leonard Bright, a professor at Texas A&M, testified. "Those of us who participate as faculty senators do so out of a respect, concern and even love for our institutions." Students, too, advocated for the importance of student-centered decisions and said faculty councils encourage that. "The faculty senate is one of the most vital components of educational institutions, simply because the people have a voice." Austin Community College Student Body President Edwin Escamilla said. "The students have a voice in these committees. And I feel like I have an obligation to come here and testify and defend the right to have a say in what's going on in their institutions." It's unclear exactly how the Texas Senate intends to regulate these faculty groups, but lawmakers can begin filing bills for the next legislative session on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Creighton has led the way on regulating university policy in recent years, championing the state's ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs last year. Patrick's interim charges for Creighton's committee also directed lawmakers to "expose how (DEI) programs and their curriculum are damaging and not aligned with state workforce demands." The 89th legislative session begins in January.