The University of Texas at Austin is eliminating an unknown number of diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions and closing its department focused on access and belonging on campus, university President Jay Hartzell said in a letter addressed to the campus community and sent to CNN on Tuesday.
The staffing cuts come as the university works to comply with the state’s anti-DEI law, or SB17, that bans public colleges and universities from maintaining DEI offices, holding mandatory DEI training, and having departments focused on “promoting differential treatment” based on race, sex or ethnicity.
Hartzell said in the letter that the university is redirecting funds from DEI initiatives to “teaching and research.”
“As part of this reallocation, associate or assistant deans who were formerly focused on DEI will return to their full-time faculty positions,” Hartzell said. “The positions that provided support for those associate and assistant deans and a small number of staff roles across campus that were formerly focused on DEI will no longer be funded.”
Related article
What is DEI and why is it dividing America?
Hartzell said staff members who lose their jobs will have an opportunity to apply for other open positions at UT Austin.
Brian Davis, a university spokesman, declined to provide the number of jobs that are being eliminated. Davis told CNN in an email that the university would not comment beyond Hartzell’s letter.
UT Austin is also closing its Division of Campus and Community Engagement — an office focused on community and campus engagement, access and belonging, according to the letter. The office was formerly called the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement before SB17 went into effect in January.
The office closure and job cuts come after several cultural programs, identity groups and events on campus lost all university funding earlier this year. Student leaders tell CNN they have been scrambling to raise money so their programs can stay afloat.
Related article
University of Texas at Austin students say cultural programs are struggling to stay afloat in wake of anti-DEI law
One student said Tuesday she was saddened by the news of staff jobs being cut. Aaliyah Barlow, president of the university’s Black Student Alliance, said she feels discouraged by the disinvestment in DEI-related jobs and programs.
“Me personally, I cried,” Barlow said. “The fact that I am going to come back here next year and all the staff members I know and all the programs I value are just going to be gone, it’s very disheartening. I feel like my college experience is ruined.”
