FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2023
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Governor Abbott Signs Bill Banning DEI on Higher Education Campuses
(Austin, TX) – Today, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, a disastrous bill that will eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs on higher education campuses across the state, into law.
This bill, which goes into effect January 1, 2024, is the most significant ban on DEI in higher education in the nation. It requires universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices, bans mandatory diversity training and restricts hiring departments from asking for diversity statements. The legislation, however, does not apply to academic course instruction, research, activities by student organizations, student recruitment or admissions.
Encouraging diversity in the classroom brings together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This diversity of thought fuels innovation and creativity, as it encourages the exploration of new ideas, approaches, and solutions.
This legislation will be detrimental to Texas students and drastically reduces the progress higher education has made to be more equitable and accessible.
In response, Travis Evans, Southern Regional Director at Young Invincibles said:
“This legislation deliberately attacks the safe and welcoming environments on campus that allows students to thrive. SB 17 undermines the ability of educators and administrators to create a diverse campus, hindering efforts to provide an inclusive learning environment for all students.
DEI is in place so our colleges and universities accurately represent and serve the population of Texas. Without these provisions in place there will be far-reaching consequences for generations of Texans from various backgrounds, impacting not only students but the overall quality of education in our state.
It will have detrimental effects on student outcomes, particularly in terms of retention and graduation rates for students from international and marginalized communities. Already in Texas we are seeing declining enrollment for students of color, from 2020 to 2021 Latinx two-year college enrollments decreased by 7.7% compared to the statewide total of 5.7%. Additionally, Black and Asian students, in particular, experienced greater declines in four-year and two-year college enrollments compared to the statewide average. While the disparities in enrollment are not solely tied to DEI, lacking access to programs centered around socioeconomic inequities, access to educational resources, cultural factors, and systemic barriers will continue to exacerbate these declining enrollments.
The removal or reduction of critical tools necessary to advance educational equity could widen existing achievement gaps and hinder the academic success of these student populations, undoing the years of work our universities have done to create competitive, top-tier universities.
We are extremely disappointed in the signing of SB 17 and the colossal step backwards Texas is taking.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org