The University of North Texas cut faculty senate committees and networking groups that focused on employees of color, women and other communities to comply with the state’s DEI ban, according to an email obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Michael McPherson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, wrote in a Tuesday email that the cuts were effective immediately and referenced Texas’ new state law that prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion offices as well as university-funded programs that are specific to gender identity or race.
After working with lawyers, it was “determined that continuation of these groups creates ongoing issues with the university being in full compliance with the law,” McPherson wrote.
Later he added, “Complying with the law does not change our commitment to our people and our mission.”
McPherson did not respond to a request for comment.
The three faculty senate groups eliminated focused on staffers who are women, people of color or LGBTQ. Other committees that can remain active include those related to research, policy oversight and faculty with disabilities.
“The changes we have made have been undertaken with the guidance of the UNT System Office of General Counsel to ensure we are adhering to state and federal law as a state institution,” Devynn Case, UNT’s director of media relations, said in a statement.
Case noted that Senate Bill 17, the legislation that created the DEI ban at public colleges and universities, includes exceptions to the ban for academic course instruction, research, student organizations, data collection and student recruitment and admissions.
The law went into effect Jan. 1 and does not mention faculty senates or related committees specifically.
Supporters of the ban argue DEI offices are exclusive and indoctrinate those on campus to believe in the same ideology, stifling freedom of speech. Opponents say DEI fosters inclusivity for those who historically have been excluded from higher education.
Some UNT employees stressed that SB 17 should not impact faculty senates or staff groups focused on mentorship and peer support.
“I’m in shock, honestly,” said Mariela Nuñez-Janes, a professor of anthropology. “I don’t understand the justification” because both faculty senate committees and employee resource groups were not providing DEI training, she said.
UNT President Harrison Keller did not respond to a request for comment. Keller, the state’s former higher education commissioner, joined the Denton university in August as its new leader.
The move to cut some employee committees comes after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced one of his priorities for next year’s legislative session is to review the role of faculty senates in public colleges and universities.
A faculty senate is a structure of governance in higher education where faculty members debate academic and campus issues, voice opinions through internal votes and public statements and offer recommendations to administration.
Outside of the senate, some networking groups eliminated included those for new faculty, Christians, Asian Pacific Islanders, Black employees and staffers who are from other countries.
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,” according to the senate’s website.
State leaders have heightened scrutiny over higher education in recent years. In 2023, lawmakers passed the DEI ban and attempted to eliminate faculty tenure.
Employees often note that resource groups help with recruitment efforts. Faculty senate committees advocated for particular needs of faculty.
The committee focused on women, for example, documented disparities in salary and called attention to such issues that otherwise would be ignored, Nuñez-Janes said.
Its members would survey faculty and offer findings to the administration as well as request data on gender and race breakdowns of new hires, for example.
The existence of these committees and groups is a recognition that those are important areas to be considered, Nuñez-Janes said.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
