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Texas university clears DEI offices, lays off employees in light of new state law: report
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- April 06 2024
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The University of Texas at Austin has laid off dozens of employees who worked in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to comply with a new state law. University President Jay Hartzell announced the dissolution of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, transferring its programs and funding to other divisions. This move comes in response to a Texas law that dissolved DEI institutions at public colleges and universities statewide.
According to reports, approximately 60 positions related to DEI work were eliminated at UT-Austin. The law prohibits the establishment and maintenance of DEI offices and the issuance of “DEI Statements” by governing boards of public colleges and universities. Hiring practices and training are also restricted from using DEI statements.In his statement, Hartzell acknowledged the controversy surrounding the law, emphasizing the university’s commitment to maintaining a welcoming and supportive community for all students. He assured that student-facing jobs would continue for the rest of the semester, and laid-off employees could apply for other positions within the university.
State Senator Brandon Creighton outlined expectations for universities to comply with the law, emphasizing the need for a “merit-based environment.” The Texas Senate Committee on Education is set to hold a hearing in May to assess compliance efforts, with potential funding consequences for non-compliance.
The closure of the university’s Multicultural Engagement Center (MEC) affected cultural graduation ceremonies, sparking outrage among some students. Events like Black Graduation, Latinx Graduation, and GraduAsian ceremonies were impacted as a result.
In a related development, Rep. Dan Crenshaw introduced a bill to freeze federal funding to colleges and universities that compel students to sign or make statements on DEI. The University of Florida also terminated all its DEI employees to comply with state law.
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