The University of Texas at Austin has confirmed the termination of numerous employees previously engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles, responding to a statewide prohibition of such initiatives.
This development follows legislative changes mandated by Senate Bill 17, which outlawed DEI programs in public universities across Texas, effective January 1st. The American Association of University Professors’ Texas chapter highlighted the university’s action, indicating that at least 60 individuals have been impacted, a figure they describe as conservative.
The affected employees, who had been reassigned from their DEI positions months prior to comply with the new law, received their notices on Tuesday. In a joint statement, Brian Evans, a professor at UT and interim president of the AAUP’s Texas chapter, alongside Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, criticized the layoffs as retaliatory measures against staff for their former DEI involvement.
This move aligns with recent warnings from state officials urging adherence to the legislation. UT Austin’s decision to close its Division of Campus and Community Engagement, which was particularly targeted by the layoffs, underscores the university’s commitment to compliance. UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, in a communication to the university community, outlined the redirection of funds previously allocated to DEI initiatives towards bolstering teaching and research efforts.
These layoffs are a continuation of the contentious debate over the role of DEI in higher education, a discussion that has seen similar actions at other institutions, such as the University of Florida, and heightened scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s stance against race-based affirmative action last summer.
The enactment of S.B. 17 by Governor Greg Abbott and subsequent enforcement warnings by state Senator Brandon Creighton emphasize a legislative intent to reshape the landscape of higher education in Texas. This intent is further reinforced by the support from figures like Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who lauded the university’s compliance as a triumph for “common sense.”
Critics of the layoffs, including State Representative Ron Reynolds and various DEI advocates, argue that such measures not only undermine campus inclusivity but also reflect an overzealous application of S.B. 17. They caution against the potential chilling effect on campus discourse and the disproportionate impact these layoffs may have on marginalized communities.
In the wake of these terminations, university staff and faculty members are mobilizing to challenge the decision, expressing concerns over the immediate and long-term implications for the university’s climate and its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The response from the university community, juxtaposed with the legislative backdrop, signals a critical juncture in the ongoing dialogue about the place of DEI in public education and the broader societal values these programs represent.