The University of Texas at Dallas will lay off about 20 employees and close its campus support office to comply with the state's DEI ban, university President Richard Benson said in an email to the community on Tuesday.
Benson said the university's Office of Campus Resources and Support and approximately 20 employees will be laid off as of April 30.
UTD's move comes in the wake of SB 17, which prohibits public universities from having DEI offices and hosting diversity, equity, and inclusion activities and programs, when the University of Texas at Austin laid off approximately 60 employees. This took place about a week after he was fired.
The law went into effect on January 1, and many companies have changed their office names and job titles to comply with the law.
“We understand that this decision will not be welcomed by many in our campus community,” Benson wrote. “I remain committed to ensuring that UT Dallas is a collaborative community focused on developing the knowledge, research, and talent essential to our future.”
Recently, the bill's author, Sen. Brandon Clayton (R-Conroe), sent a letter to university leaders in late March stating that it is illegal to continue the same DEI work by simply changing the name of the program. It was notified that it would not be considered to be in compliance with the law. Schools would be at risk of losing millions of dollars in state funds if they breach mandated funding.
UTD officials referred to Benson's email but declined further comment. (Our university sponsors the Education Lab.)
“We have continually evaluated our response to SB 17 and how to realign the many programs affected by this law,” Benson wrote in a message to the school community. “A limited number of functions will be transferred to other administrative departments to ensure continuity of service to students, faculty and staff.”
Benson said the Accessibility Resource Center will continue to provide disability and accessibility services to students under the Office of Academic Affairs, while the same services for employees will transition to the Human Resources Department.
Employees affected by the elimination of these positions have been notified. Student workers continue to work until the end of the semester.
Benson said this last year during an August panel discussion with local university presidents. dallas morning news No one will lose their job at UTD because of the DEI ban. However, “they may have other jobs.”
He added, “If you knew what we did, not what we called it, I think you would admire it, and you would admire people like that.” [do] that. “
In general, new laws do not permit DEI offices, staff, training, or enforcement based on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, unless approved by DEI's General Counsel and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Commission. All statements, programs and activities are prohibited.
Across the country, more than 70 bills aimed at banning DEI have been introduced in state legislatures. It has become law in eight states, including Florida and Tennessee. In Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order banning DEI at public universities and other institutions.
Crichton said Texas' ban is the most outrageous DEI ban in the country.
Following last week's layoffs in Austin, some groups argued that the cuts at UT were discriminatory because employees who held DEI positions had already been reassigned to new positions. . The organizations argue that the retrenchment is therefore based on previous affiliation, which means the dismissal violates employees' rights.
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