Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how they’re complying with the state’s DEI ban

By Sneha Dey, The Texas TribuneMay 14, 2024 “Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how they’re complying with the state’s DEI ban” 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. Public university leaders tried to demonstrate their schools can still build diverse student bodies in a post-DEI reality and acknowledged a rise in reports of antisemitism on campuses at a wide-ranging hearing Tuesday that covered some of the most explosive issues rattling higher education in the state. In their first public testimony since the ban on diversity, equity and inclusion offices went into effect, university system administrators explained to the Texas Senate subcommittee on higher education how they were complying with the state law. They said they have redirected millions of dollars away from their now-defunct DEI offices toward redoubling recruiting efforts and developing alternative student support programs. “Every dollar spent on bloated university bureaucracy should be redeployed to ensure that all Texas students...