Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Law That Shuts Down All State-funded Colleges, Universities’ Diversity, equity, and inclusion offices

The backlash is palpable. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has followed through with signing a bill that effectively shuts down diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at state-funded colleges and universities.

Considered the most significant ban on diversity offices in higher education across the country, the law’s passing is even acknowledged by a supporter of the legislation.  This decision coincides with the anticipated ban by the U.S. Supreme Court on colleges and universities considering race during the admissions process, as reported by NBC News.

Governor Abbott signed the law on Wednesday.  Under the new legislation, any public college or university that fails to declare compliance with the law’s guidelines will be unable to access state funds allocated to them.

Furthermore, the law stipulates that state officials must conduct studies every two years until 2029 to examine the impact of the law on students, with data disaggregated by race. These studies will assess application rates, acceptance rates, matriculation rates, retention rates, graduation rates, and grade point averages. However, lawmakers did not provide a rationale for conducting these studies.

This law represents the latest move by Texas’ Republican lawmakers and the governor, amidst criticisms that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are divisive or anti-white. Conversely, proponents argue that these departments can facilitate collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

“Texas is leading the nation in ensuring that our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are evaluated based on their qualifications, skills, and contributions,” stated state Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican and one of the bill’s authors.

Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, expressed her disappointment in a statement, referring to the bill’s signing as a “sad occasion for all students at Texas’ public universities.”

Russell emphasized that dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices at these institutions demonstrates that Texas lawmakers prioritize a political agenda over the success of students. She stressed that a diverse student body benefits all students, regardless of race, and declared her organization’s commitment to continue working towards increased accessibility and inclusivity in Texas universities.