The University of Texas at Austin has issued layoff notices to approximately 60 staff members who previously held roles in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) following the implementation of the state's anti-DEI law, SB17. This law prohibits public colleges and universities from maintaining DEI offices, conducting mandatory DEI training, and establishing departments that promote differential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity.
The affected staff members were given a 90-day layoff notice, with 40 of them coming from the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, which is set to close. This division was formerly known as the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement before SB17 took effect in January.
While the university spokesperson did not confirm the exact number of job cuts, President Jay Hartzell stated that funds allocated for DEI initiatives would be redirected to teaching and research. Associate or assistant deans who previously focused on DEI will return to their full-time faculty positions, leading to the elimination of supporting staff roles across campus.
Impacted staff members will have the opportunity to apply for other open positions within UT Austin. However, the Texas NAACP and American Association of University Professors expressed concerns that the terminations may be retaliatory and called for transparency regarding the impact on university services and provisions for displaced staff.
These layoffs follow the loss of funding for cultural programs, identity groups, and events on campus earlier this year, prompting student leaders to seek alternative funding sources to sustain their programs. Aaliyah Barlow, president of the university's Black Student Alliance, expressed disappointment over the job cuts and the diminishing support for DEI-related initiatives, highlighting the emotional toll on students who value these programs.
The closure of DEI-related offices and the subsequent job cuts at the University of Texas at Austin underscore the challenges faced by institutions navigating legislative restrictions on diversity and inclusion efforts.
