U. Texas San Antonio Rebrands DEI as ‘Belonging’ Before the Law Banning DEI Takes Effect January 1

U. Texas San Antonio Rebrands DEI as ‘Belonging’ Before the Law Banning DEI Takes Effect January 1

We have seen at least two other schools in different states try this tactic. Just changing the name means nothing.

The College Fix reports:

UT San Antonio reworks DEI to ‘belonging’ as new law banning DEI takes effect

A public university in Texas has reworked its diversity, equity and inclusion office ahead of a law that takes effect Jan. 1 banning DEI offices at public universities in the state.

The University of Texas at San Antonio has closed its Office of Inclusive Excellence and is opening the Office of Campus and Community Belonging with the same staff due to the new law, President Taylor Eighmy announced in a recent campuswide email.

“As you know, Senate Bill 17 goes into effect on January 1, 2024 and charges college and university governing boards with ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion offices are not maintained or upheld,” Eighmy wrote.

“…Importantly, the individuals who previously served in the Office of Inclusive Excellence will now have new roles with updated responsibilities to support the Office of Campus and Community Belonging’s purpose, goals and services.”

The university’s media relations department did not respond to requests for comment this month from The College Fix asking whether the shift is in some ways a rebrand to skirt the law.

Signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, SB 17 states an “institution of higher education may not establish or maintain a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or hire or assign an employee of the institution, or contract with a third party, to perform the duties of a diversity, equity, and inclusion office.”

The agenda for the new UTSA belonging office is “ADA & Accessibility, Campus Climate, and Community Partnership Bridges,” Eighmy wrote, providing few details on the campus climate portion of the office other than to state it will “take a proactive approach to maintaining a welcoming environment to enhance the student, staff and faculty experience.”

Thomas Lindsay with the Texas Public Policy Foundation told The College Fix he hopes universities will abide by the DEI restrictions.

“I would be shocked and dismayed were they to seek to circumvent the DEI bans,” Lindsay said via email this month.

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