On September 10, the University of North Texas (UNT) announced that faculty senate committees and networking groups focusing on employees of color, women, and other communities would be cut in compliance with the state’s ban on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives, according to an email obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Eliminated networking groups included those for new faculty, Christians, Asian Pacific Islanders, Black employees, and staffers from other countries.
Michael McPherson, provost and vice president of student affairs, shared in an email that the cuts were effective immediately, and referenced Texas’ new state law that prohibits DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) offices and university-funded programs specifically addressing gender identity or race.
McPherson wrote that after discussing the issue with lawyers it was “determined that continuation of these groups creates ongoing issues with the university being in full compliance with the law.”
Following the enactment of Senate Bill 17 on January 1, a prohibition was established against DEI initiatives at public colleges and universities. However, exceptions to this ban have been made for academic course instruction, research, student organizations, data collection, student recruitment, and admissions.
It has been noted by Devynn Case, UNT’s director of media relations, that faculty senates or related committees are not specifically mentioned in the ban.
Some UNT employees have expressed confusion over the university’s choice to cut these groups.
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Mariela Nunez-Janes, a UNT anthropology professor, said, “I’m in shock, honestly. I don’t understand the justification because both faculty senate committees and employee resource groups were not providing DEI training.”
According to their website, the mission of the UNT Faculty Senate is to “lead faculty in fulfilling their responsibilities in the shared governance of the University and to represent faculty interests to University and community stakeholders.”
