As of the start of the fall 2023 semester, UHD has closed the Center for Diversity and Inclusion during the center’s 10th year of existence.
The closure was done in response to the passing of Texas Senate Bill 17. The bill bans diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at all public Texas universities.
According to the Texas Tribune, the bill “largely restrict how the state’s public universities can promote equitable access to higher education and cultivate diversity among students, faculty and staff.”
While the bill will shut down DEI offices, several amendments were added to the bill to clarify that it “would not affect course instruction, faculty research, student organizations, guest speakers, data collection or admissions.”
Universities across the state have all responded in different ways to the announcement of SB17. In an Instagram post on Aug. 28, Rice University’s Rice PRIDE organization announced it was opening its DEI office’s services to all students at public Texas universities. As Rice is a private institution, SB17 does not affect the school’s programs.
According to the Texas Tribune, over the summer the Texas A&M system reviewed all their programs and how to bring them into compliance with the bill.
Starting with the fall 2023 semester the school system has announced that their DEI offices are closed and programs either shutdown or modified to comply with SB17.
Taking the place of UHD’s former CDI office is the new Center for Advocacy and Belonging located in the One Main Building room S370.
According to the Center’s webpage, the mission of the center is to “empower students to build a more welcoming campus environment for all members of the UHD community through programming and trainings, and by engaging in outreach and advocacy efforts to promote a campus of belonging.”
The Dateline reached out to the Center for Advocacy and Belonging via email on Aug. 28 and again on Sept. 7 but has not heard back at the time of publication.
While colleges across the state have already begun modifying or outright closing their DEI offices, the bill will not officially go into effect until Jan. 1, 2024.
