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During a discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival on Friday, three university chancellors highlighted how the impact of a new law has disrupted hiring efforts as public colleges in the state work towards dismantling their diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.
Senate Bill 17, which goes into effect at the beginning of next year, bans DEI offices at publicly-funded college campuses.
Chancellor Renu Khator of the University of Houston expressed the challenge of recruiting faculty, notably in the case of hiring a vice president for research within the university system, where the ban has already posed difficulties.
“Occasionally, they straightforwardly express their reluctance by saying, ‘Oh no, I simply don’t want to come,'” Khator explained. “Convincing them requires engaging in additional dialogue, delving deeper into the conversation.”
Texas Republicans have accused DEI offices and programs of instilling left-wing beliefs in students and pressuring schools to prioritize diversity support over merit when making hiring decisions. Opponents of the law argue that it hinders progress in Texas higher education, as DEI initiatives contribute to increased enrollment among underrepresented groups and facilitate the recruitment of employees from diverse backgrounds.
Texas A&M University faced a notable challenge in diversifying its hiring practices during the summer when they attempted to recruit Kathleen O. McElroy, a journalism professor and former New York Times editor.
After a public signing event to announce her recruitment, A&M’s selection faced criticism from a conservative website. Consequently, McElroy’s initial offer, which included tenure, was revised by the school. Eventually, McElroy decided to decline the offer and opted to stay at the University of Texas. In the end, she reached a settlement agreement with A&M for $1 million.
During a panel discussion at The Texas Tribune Festival on Friday, John Sharp, the chancellor of A&M, proposed that Kathleen Banks, the former president of Texas A&M, made the decision to revoke McElroy’s tenure offer without consulting the university system’s board of regents. Consequently, Banks eventually stepped down from her position.
Sharp said, “The regents approved the offer with tenure and informed Banks of the decision. I cannot explain why she did not follow through with that. I have not spoken to her since she departed.”
But text messages from board members revealed they had concerns with McElroy’s perceived left-leaning credentials and had expressed disappointment about her hire.
Researchers at universities frequently collaborate with federal agencies that mandate the inclusion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements as a prerequisite for obtaining federal funding. Interestingly, this requirement does not contradict the recently implemented state law, as it allows exemptions for researchers.
Khator stated that all six systems have collaborated effectively to ensure our consistency. She added that researchers seeking grants with specific requirements can include this statement to fulfill those needs.
According to Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell, institutions must prioritize supporting students, even in the absence of DEI offices.
Mitchell emphasized that our primary goal is to nurture the growth of young individuals, irrespective of the existence of DEI. It is vital for us to introspect and evaluate our daily actions to ensure that every child entrusted to us feels embraced and encouraged in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Disclosure: Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University System, New York Times and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
As The Texas Tribune’s signature event of the year, The Texas Tribune Festival brings Texans closer to politics, policy and the day’s news from Texas and beyond. Browse on-demand recordings and catch up on the biggest headlines from Festival events at the Tribune’s Festival news page.
