Feb. 22, 2023: The UT System Board of Regents paused new diversity, equity and inclusion policies at all system institutions after a letter from Gov. Greg Abbott warned DEI policies in hiring practices violate employment laws. The system also requested reports on currently implemented policies.
March 10, 2023: Sen. Brandon Creighton introduces Senate Bill 17.
June 14, 2023: Abbott signed SB 17 into law.
Sept. 15, 2023: UT System provided initial FAQ guidance on SB 17.
Oct. 4, 2023: The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement — now known as the Division of Campus and Community Engagement — created a list of key definitions and terms to identify programs that may be affected to comply with SB 17. Terms included LGBTQ+, racism and social justice.
Oct. 16, 2023: DDCE staff began writing a survey for students in Multicultural Engagement Center agencies regarding SB 17. In the event that agencies separated from the MEC, the survey asked for suggestions on which programs, services and events should remain hosted by the MEC. All six agencies formerly associated with the MEC would end up separating from the Center.
Nov 13, 2023: DDCE staff incorporated website adjustments including hiding “agencies” subtabs on the MEC page.
Nov 27, 2023: A second round of MEC website edits included removing cultural graduations such as Black Graduation, Latinx Graduation, GraduAsian and Lavender Graduation.
Nov. 28, 2023: UT System approved UTS 197, the formal policy for the System’s compliance with SB 17.
Nov. 29, 2023: DDCE planned to meet with UT Legal and review and revise website content.
Dec. 11, 2023: In planning for the website launch, the DCCE planned to keep pages for the Women’s Community Center, Fearless Leadership Institute, MEC and Project MALES. The Division planned to remove the pages for the Heman Sweatt Center for Black Males and the Latina/x & Indigenous Leadership Institute.
Dec. 13, 2023: The DDCE implemented MEC website edits.
Dec. 14, 2023: The DDCE is renamed to the Division of Campus and Community Engagement “to better reflect our work’s new scope, nature, and reach,” according to an email to students from LaToya Smith, former vice president of the DCCE. The Division made changes to the FLI website a day before their website launch.
Dec. 19, 2023: An email about modifications to budget allocations stated that the MEC would continue supporting students.
Dec. 23, 2023: Smith informed DCCE staff about the MEC’s closure.
Jan. 8, 2024: Smith signed an SB 17 compliance certification.
Jan 9, 2024: A list outlined changes made to different divisions in the DCCE. According to the list, the Division made changes to the FLI, the Sweatt Center and the GSC. LILI and the MEC were discontinued due to SB 17 compliance. The email also noted the McNair Scholars and Monarch Scholars would be discontinued; however, their closures were “non-SB17 related changes.” A University spokesperson confirmed the Monarch Program closed in part due to SB 17 and should have been placed under the “SB 17 Changes” section of the email.
Jan. 23, 2024: The DCCE sent an email to students confirming the MEC’s closure. The email also said that cultural graduations and welcome programs would not continue.
March 26, 2024: Sen. Brandon Creighton sent a letter to public universities. In the letter, he said he suspects some universities simply renamed their DEI programs. He warned universities the Senate Education Committee can freeze the universities’ state funding in cases of undercompliance.
April 2, 2024: The University closed the DCCE and laid off staff members. President Jay Hartzell said the layoffs impacted 49 individuals; the Texas American Association of University Professors estimates 62 staff were laid off.
May 14, 2024: Texas public university leaders, including representatives from the UT System, spoke on their compliance to SB 17 at a Senate hearing. UT System administrators said they freed $25 million in their budget after office closures, eliminations of trainings and related staff positions. Nearly 150 community members gave testimonies. Most of them spoke on the consequences of the bill.
The University declined to comment. UT Legal did not respond to requests for comment.
