Texas A&M System’s guidance on the state’s DEI ban shows compliance might be a hard needle to thread

By Caroline Wilburn, The Texas Tribune Sept. 18, 2023 “Texas A&M System’s guidance on the state’s DEI ban shows compliance might be a hard needle to thread” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The Texas A&M University System issued staff guidance earlier this month on how to comply with the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, providing a first glimpse into how Texas universities are navigating the thorny implementation of the new law. The guidance, compiled in a list of FAQs, is meant to provide clarity on the law but also shows that university employees trying not to run afoul of the ban may have a hard needle to thread. Guidance for university website and social media administrators states that “DEI information should not be on university websites, including but not limited to the acronym, DEI, or the phrase ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion.’” Universities might organize events that “support diversity in a general...