Texas
Is banning DEI in college courses the next step for Texas?
Texas lawmakers are eyeing how DEI is woven into college courses and how much influence faculty senates have on campuses.
A group of senators met on Monday to debate two issues that are some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative properties for next year’s session.
Patrick wants legislators to review the role of faculty senates and enforce Texas’ ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state colleges and universities.
The DEI ban, which passed last year, has exceptions for research and course instruction. However, during Monday’s hearing, lawmakers suggested that instruction might be targeted next.
“While DEI-related curriculum and course content does not explicitly violate the letter of the law, it indeed contradicts its spirit,” said Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who authored the DEI ban and oversees the Senate higher education subcommittee.
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who opposes the DEI ban, said as colleges have reviewed programs, they have “revealed no so-called smoking gun, proving that DEI is racist or exclusionary as some of my colleagues continue to suggest.”
West emphasized that while many associate DEI with race, DEI programs eliminated to comply with the new law included those for veterans and various faculty support groups.
He questioned Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III on academic minors that were cut last week, including one for LGBTQ studies.
The Dallas senator asked whether political motivation was behind the decision to cut that specific minor. Welsh denied any.
A&M faculty members have complained about the way university officials cut these programs without consulting them. Welsh agreed that faculty was not “sufficiently” involved in that decision but will participate moving forward.
Creighton said he received multiple reports about college courses that have DEI content woven in across various fields of study. The subcommittee’s goal is to examine programs and certificates that “perpetuate any discriminatory efforts within diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said.
Courses that have such lessons in them do not “reflect the expectations of Texas taxpayers and students who fund our public universities,” Creighton said.
Much of the day’s focus explored how the politics of faculty senate members potentially play a role in what’s taught on campuses.
He asked repeatedly whether political interference from faculty members influence decisions and votes for the approval of programs.
Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas at Austin, stressed that new courses are implemented based on market demand.
Holley Love, faculty senate president at the University of Houston, said faculty’s political leanings do not impact decisions on what’s taught. Creighton pressed asking if she has seen any example of faculty developing curriculum based on political leanings. She said no.
During public testimony, dozens spoke in support of DEI and faculty senates. Most were current and former students of Texas colleges, as well as professors.
Many asked lawmakers to reverse the state law that now prevents public colleges and universities from having DEI offices and programs that are specific to certain races or genders, arguing DEI creates an inclusive environment for students who historically were excluded from higher education.
Critics of DEI say DEI favors race or gender over merit and stifles freedom of speech by compelling people to believe in the same belief system.
Invited panelists who oppose how DEI is included in various college courses included Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Nick Down of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.
Sylvester said the culture on Texas campuses “revolve around identity politics, gender and race theory and a bedrock belief that America’s built and maintained on systemic racism, oppression and privilege.”
It’s critical that the subcommittee look into what’s being taught in university classrooms, Sylvester added.
The DEI ban was passed last legislative session and went into effect Jan. 1 and has impacted DEI offices, LGBTQ centers, scholarships, programs for immigrant students and others.
The group of senators will “review how these programs and their curricula are misaligned with the workforce demands of our state and recommend reforms to ensure that universities are educating students in ways that meet current Texas workforce needs,” Creighton said.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
AUSTIN – Texas officials are rolling out a new online hub aimed at helping residents spot and report the New World screwworm, a pest Gov. Greg Abbott says threatens livestock, wildlife, and the state’s rural economy.
Abbott announced the launch of screwworm.texas.gov, an enhanced website housed in the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Disaster Portal that he described as a “one-stop shop” for information and resources tied to the state’s response.
The New World screwworm poses a direct threat to Texas livestock, wildlife, and our rural economy,” Abbott said. “This new website puts essential tools in the hands of our producers, veterinarians, and families. Screwworm.texas.gov delivers the facts, maps, identification methods, and certification resources Texans need to detect problems early and report cases without delay. Now every Texan has the information to act. Texas will protect our land, our animals, and our way of life from this pest.
According to the governor’s office, the site is designed to provide “actionable and reliable multimedia information” about the New World screwworm, including fact sheets, videos, and educational materials.
The portal includes background information, guidance on how to spot the pest, sample collection procedures, Texas Animal Health Commission New World screwworm zone maps, the U.S. Department of Agriculture case dashboard, links to best practices for livestock and wildlife, and details on registering for a new no-cost New World screwworm Certified Inspector Training.
The governor’s office said state and federal partners are working together to detect, control and contain the spread, and that expanding public outreach and providing clear information is a key part of reducing risk.
Abbott’s office also highlighted actions taken by the governor in response to the pest, including:
- Directing the creation of a joint Texas New World screwworm Response Team
- Joining USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce a $750 million investment in a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg
- Issuing a statewide disaster declaration ahead of the first detection
- Deploying state resources and activating the State Emergency Operations Center after the first confirmed Texas cases
- Visiting the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville for a briefing
- Launching a free online training course to certify more inspectors
- Announcing federal funding to strengthen inspection capacity.
Texans are urged to inspect livestock and pets for wounds and report suspected cases immediately, including in wildlife.
For livestock and pets, suspected cases should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission’s 24-hour veterinarian call line at 1-800-550-8242.
For wildlife, reports should be made to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s 24-hour biologists’ call line at 512-389-4505. Officials also warn people not to move affected animals.
More information and updates are available at screwworm.texas.gov and screwworm.gov.
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
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