The University of North Texas is eliminating its “diversity, equity, and inclusion” division due to a new state law that requires public universities to do so.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Senate Bill 17 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott and prohibits any public university from “promoting differential treatment of or providing special benefits to individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity” and “promoting policies or procedures designed or implemented in reference to race, color, or ethnicity.”
According to the bill’s text, the law will take effect on January 1, 2024, after which all “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) departments at public universities throughout the state must be dissolved.
University of North Texas (UNT) President Neal Smatresk announced the termination of the institution’s DEI department on Tuesday.
“… [W]e have Senate Bill 17, we’re working on complying with it,” he told WFAA.
UNT’s vice president for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access will retire at the beginning of October, and some responsibilities of the DEI department will be “transferred to other divisions,” according to Smatresk’s statement.
“The changes we are making … ensure we are adhering to state and federal law as a state institution,” he said. “Working together we will craft mission statements and operational structures that comply with SB17 and federal law and ensure that the Division of Student Affairs provides the support all our students need.”
UNT Athletic Director Jared Mosley said he is unsure what the effects of SB 17 will be on the athletics department.
“There’s still a lot of back and forth around what the state law is outlined and what they expect from us with athletics and what’s required by the NCAA, so we’ll continue to work on that together,” he told WFAA.
Anna Hinton, UNT assistant professor of Disability Studies and Black Literature & Culture, said she disapproved of the decision.
“My immediate reaction was disappointment,” she told WFAA. “The university, in this announcement, didn’t specify the long-term implications for the different student groups and resources.”
“If this particular decision is any implication, I’m concerned,” she continued. “We’re talking about race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, language, accent, ability status, citizenship status, so in so many ways, these are gonna have far-reaching implications that people don’t quite grasp yet.”
While some faculty lament these changes, many state lawmakers have championed SB 17.
The bill’s author, Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), previously said his legislation will “ensur[e] our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions.”
“What sets SB 17 apart from other proposals is that the legislation delivers strong enforcement with mandates to return Texas colleges and universities to their core mission — educate and innovate,” he added, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.