Is banning DEI in college courses the next step for Texas?

Texas lawmakers are eyeing how DEI is woven into college courses and how much influence faculty senates have on campuses.

A group of senators met on Monday to debate two issues that are some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities for next year’s session.

Patrick wants legislators to review the role of faculty senates and enforce Texas’ ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state colleges and universities.

The DEI ban, which passed last year, has exceptions for research and course instruction. However, during Monday’s hearing lawmakers suggested that instruction might be targeted next.

“While DEI-related curriculum and course content does not explicitly violate the letter of the law, it indeed contradicts its spirit,” said Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who authored the DEI ban and oversees the Senate higher education subcommittee.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who opposes the DEI ban, said as colleges have reviewed programs, they have “revealed no so-called smoking gun proving that DEI is racist or exclusionary as some of my colleagues continue to suggest.”

West emphasized that while many associate DEI with race, DEI programs eliminated to comply with the new law included those for veterans and various faculty support groups.

He questioned Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III on academic minors that were cut last week, including one for LGBTQ studies.

The Dallas senator asked whether political motivation was behind the decision to cut that specific minor. Welsh denied any.

A&M faculty members have complained about the way university officials cut these programs without consulting them. Welsh agreed that faculty was not “sufficiently” involved in that decision but will participate moving forward.

Creighton said he received multiple reports about college courses that have DEI content woven in across various fields of study. The subcommittee’s goal is to examine programs and certificates that “perpetuate any discriminatory efforts within diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said.

Courses that have such lessons in them do not “reflect the expectations of Texas taxpayers and students who fund our public universities,” Creighton said.

Much of the day’s focus explored how the politics of faculty senate members potentially play a role in what’s taught on campuses.

He asked repeatedly whether political interference from faculty members influence decisions and votes for the approval of programs.

Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas at Austin, stressed that new courses are implemented based on market demand.

Holley Love, faculty senate president at the University of Houston, said faculty’s political leanings do not impact decisions on what’s taught. Creighton pressed, asking if she has seen any example of faculty developing curriculum based on political leanings. She said no.

During public testimony, dozens spoke in support of DEI and faculty senates. Most were current and former students of Texas colleges, as well as professors.

Many asked lawmakers to reverse the state law that now prevents public colleges and universities from having DEI offices and programs that are specific to certain races or genders, arguing DEI creates an inclusive environment for students who historically were excluded from higher education.

Critics of DEI say DEI favors race or gender over merit and stifles freedom of speech by compelling people to believe in the same belief system.

Invited panelists who oppose how DEI is included in various college courses included Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Nick Down of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni spoke about how schools overspend on DEI efforts.

Sylvester said the culture on Texas campuses “revolve around identity politics, gender and race theory and a bedrock belief that America’s built and maintained on systemic racism, oppression and privilege.”

It’s critical that the subcommittee look into what’s being taught in university classrooms, Sylvester added.

The DEI ban was passed last legislative session and went into effect Jan. 1, and has impacted DEI offices, LGBTQ centers, scholarships, programs for immigrant students and others.

The group of senators will “review how these programs and their curricula are misaligned with the workforce demands of our state and recommend reforms to ensure that universities are educating students in ways that meet current Texas workforce needs,” Creighton said.

This article was first published by the Dallas Morning News on November 11, 2024.