University of Houston chancellor on stopping use of DEI statements: 'We stand against any actions or activities which promote discrimination'

In an email sent out this week by Chancellor Renu Khator at the University of Houston system, it was announced that the school will stop using DEI statements in hiring practices in compliance with state and federal law. 

"We will continue to ensure our policies are consistent with state and federal laws, and we stand against any actions or activities which promote discrimination in the guise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)," Khator said in the statement.

Texas universities are revising their DEI policies following the state's decision to ban DEI statements in hiring and admission practices. 

The Texas A&M University system was one of the latest to announce on Thursday that it would remove its DEI statements from these processes. Other universities in the state, including Texas State, UT systems, Texas Tech and Rice University have also decided to review their policies. 

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, believes Gov. Greg Abbott’s conservative base is partly responsible for this change.

The University of Texas System (UTS) has temporarily put a halt to the implementation of its policies on DEI on campuses. This decision came after several concerns were raised about the potential for these guidelines to limit free speech and impose certain ideologies upon students. 

UTS was quick to take such allegations seriously and has decided to review its DEI policies in order to ensure that these values are in line with academic freedom and the promotion of diverse thought. The Austin American-Statesman reported that this move had been met with mixed emotion from public figures, with many legislators applauding UTS's decision as a sign of taking precautions when it comes to protecting free speech rights within the university. 

Some critics are concerned that the policies could be used to restrict free speech by pushing certain ideologies onto students and limiting their ability to freely express their ideas. They worry that if this happens, it could lead to an atmosphere where only certain perspectives are heard and respected. 

The University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System have both elected to suspend any new hiring and employment policies related to DEI in response to a directive from Abbott. This decision was made at a recent UT System Board Meeting with Chairman Kevin Eltife providing a statement: “Given the clear legislative focus, we have paused any new DEI policies on our campuses and have asked for reports on current policies on our campuses.” 

The directive from Abbott requires the university systems to review all existing hiring policies carefully and make sure they are in line with state law. The move comes after several large public universities across the country have been criticized for their lack of diversity among faculty members and administrators. In addition to pausing new DEI initiatives, both university systems are now tasked with reporting their current policies related to DEI within their respective institutions.