In accordance with a law that prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the country’s public colleges and universities, the University of Texas at Austin announced on Tuesday that it would be defunding all of its La software.
President Jay Hartzell announced in an email to faculty, students, and employees on Tuesday afternoon that the university did shut its Division of Campus and Community Engagement and will transfer any remaining programs that do not collapse under La, such as disability services, to other departments.
In addition, funding used to fund DEI on campuses due to SB 17’s powerful date may be redeployed to support teaching and research, Hartzell said in the message, whose a copy was obtained by The College Fix.
Associate or secretary deans who were formerly focusing on DEI will resign from their full-time teaching positions as a result of this redistribution. The salaries that supported those associate and assistant deans and a small number of college team positions that were formerly centered on DEI will no longer become funded.
The president continued,” I am aware that strong feelings have persisted in the legislature regarding SB 17 and will influence many Longhorns ‘ opinions of these measures.” ” It is crucial that we honor the viewpoints and experiences of our brother Longhorns as the changes we are announcing today take consequence.”
According to three people with expertise of the abortions, the University of Texas has laid off at least 60 team members who recently worked in jobs related to diversity, equity, and participation, according to The Austin- American Statesman on Tuesday.
BIG &, Splitting: UT- Austin merely announced it is FULLY DEFUNDING DEI…
La money to get “redeployed to aid teaching &, research”.
Supervisors who concentrate on DEI may revert to professorial positions. photograph. twitter.com/EOBFCElhkF
— Jennifer Kabbany ( @JenniferKabbany ) April 2, 2024
According to a source with knowledge of the pregnancies, at least 60 people have lost their employment, 40 of them in the Division of Campus and Community Engagement alone, despite the fact that UT has not yet confirmed to the American-Statesman how many people will be laid out or how many employees jobs have been eliminated. People with knowledge of the terminations told the Statesman that” the layoffs are effective in 90 days or more.”
The law at the crux of this development states in part that an “institution of higher education may not establish or maintain a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or hire or assign an employee of the institution, or contract with a third party, to perform the duties of a diversity, equity, and inclusion office”.
Exceptions spelled out include “academic course instruction”, “research or creative works by an institution of higher education’s students or faculty”, and activities by student groups, as The College Fix previously reported.
The new law also bans “ideological oaths”, or DEI statements, for hiring and enrollment.
According to The Texas Tribune, the “AAUP and NAACP” claimed that “high concerns” were raised by the layoffs because many of the employees had recently been reassigned to positions unrelated to DEI. According to the groups ‘ letter, they” continue to gather information to address what we believe to be potential attacks on First Amendment Freedoms.”
The Texas colleges are now under increasing pressure to demonstrate their compliance with SB 17 with the layoffs, the Tribune continued. ” Last week, state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R- Conroe, said in a letter to university leaders that colleges could lose millions in state funding if they fail to comply with the law. Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott predicted that more laws will be passed during the upcoming legislative session to ensure that schools are upholding the DEI ban.
MORE: Gov. Abbott signs law abolishing DEI offices at Texas colleges, universities
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