In a sweeping wave of layoffs following a state-mandated crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts at public universities, the University of Texas at Austin has terminated the positions of around 60 staff members. The institution's latest effort to align with Texas' anti-DEI law, Senate Bill 17, has led to the closure of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE), with effective layoffs hitting the UT staff this Tuesday.
Senate Bill 17, which prohibits many DEI-related activities, has been a catalyst for significant operational changes within the university. UT President Jay Hartzell informed the campus community by email about the restructuring efforts, which eliminate duplicate programs and positions that the law deems unnecessary. According to KXAN, at least 20 employees within the DEI sphere have been affected by these terminations.
As reported by KUT, approximately 40 of the 60 layoffs originated from DCCE. Some of the employees had already transitioned to different roles within the university but, the layoff still included those not currently in DEI-designated jobs.
The university's compliance with SB 17 has been closely monitored by state legislation. Senator Brandon Creighton, the author of SB 17, has been candid about the level, of compliance he expects from state institutions, having recently written a letter expressing that superficial renames and title changes fall short of the law's requirements. "This letter should serve as notice that this practice is unacceptable — and also a reminder that SB 17 encompasses stringent enforcement provisions, including the potential freezing of university funding and legal ramifications for non-compliance," Creighton stated.
UT Austin's Multicultural Engagement Center along with programs supporting Latinx Community Affairs, Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective, and Queer and Trans Black Indigenous People of Color and Allies were also victims of the law's stringent enforcement, having to shut down at the start of the year. The repercussions of these terminations have been felt across the student body, with reports of challenges in sustaining student organizations' activities, securing operational funding, and accessing campus facilities for meetings.
A sit-out is reportedly being planned by some students for Thursday as a protest against SB 17. Meanwhile, UT's Division of Student Affairs is set to assist staff members impacted by the job eliminations, as President Hartzell highlighted in his institutional communication the availability of support resources for those affected.
The broader implications of these layoffs and program discontinuations will be more evident after the Texas Senate Committee on Education holds its hearing next month, where university chancellors are expected to report on their progress in eradicating DEI initiatives in compliance with the state law.
