AUSTIN, Texas — Routine audits at the University of Texas at Austin are searching the UT website for terms related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
It is part of an effort to comply with Senate Bill 17, a state law that bans DEI offices and programs at colleges and universities across the state. In addition, it also requires public institutions to limit the mention of DEI and support for DEI initiatives.
A UT spokesperson said the university regularly uses the search terms to scan its website to look for DEI programs, events and activities that are no longer allowed on campus under the law.
Viral social media posts have been making the rounds on the internet, showing words UT is allegedly "flagging" as search terms. They include things like:
- Diversity
- DEI
- Equity
- Inclusion
- Safe space
- ВІРОС
- Implicit bias
- Intersectionality
- Oppression
- Gender identity
- LGBTQ
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Trans
- Queer
- Nonbinary
- Decolonize
- Colonizer
- Marginalized
- Underserved
- Microaggression
- Whiteness
- Anti-Colonialism
- Anti-racist
- Institutional racism
- Systematic racism
- White privilege
- White fragility
- Social justice
- Bias
- Racism
- Minority
- Latino
- Latinx
- Latina
- Privilege
- Ally
The practice caught the attention of some UT students, including Ryan Fenton.
"I have a lot of friends who are concerned about it," he said.
The university said it has been doing the scans since last year to look for things that do not fall under the research or academic carve-outs in the law. The university said the search terms are only used for that and are not scrubbed and deleted from the website or banned from the classroom or curriculum.
"The university routinely scans its website as a means to identify programming or events, unrelated to academic and research functions, that may not be permitted under SB17," a UT spokesperson said. "The scans were first implemented in Fall 2023 in advance of the law's effective date and include a list of terms that are guides for identifying potentially non-compliant functions that require review."
According to UT, less than 1% of the content found has required further review.
But some students, like Fenton, worry about what this will all mean for their courses and classes.
"I think it's important to have DEI, especially education about it too," he said. "I know there are specific courses related to those topics. Personally, I think those are important topics."
State lawmakers have signaled they are looking to take further action on DEI in the upcoming legislative session to ensure universities are complying with state law.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has told the Senate to look at certificates and programs at public colleges and universities that use DEI policies because they are not in line with the state's workforce demands.
During a Senate Education Subcommittee hearing last week, State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) said the DEI curriculum and content in courses do not explicitly violate the current law. However, he feels like it contradicts its spirit.
"The curriculum does not reflect the expectations of Texas taxpayers and students who fund our universities," Creighton said. "It also falls short of equipping graduates with practical knowledge and skills that employers seek."
In recent weeks, Texas A&M University eliminated its LGBTQ studies minor, and the University of North Texas removed references to race and equity in course titles and descriptions.
Back on the UT campus, students worry state lawmakers' concerns about workforce development could alienate future students and allow state lawmakers to regulate classroom content.
"I feel like it might deter people from coming here," Fenton said.
While Republican lawmakers look to further dismantle DEI, critics warn doing so could perpetuate racial and gender disparities and end up hurting workforce development in the state.
The 89th legislative session begins on Jan. 14.