Dear Colleagues,
The Texas Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 17 has raised questions about the implications for sponsored research that includes a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion component.
Although SB17 prohibits public institutions of higher education from establishing or maintaining a DEI office and prohibits certain other DEI-related actions, it specifically states that the law’s DEI prohibitions do not apply to scholarly research or creative works by students, faculty or other research personnel.
We are working with legal counsel at the University and UT System to better understand the complexities of the new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. As guidance becomes available, we will share it with you and with the associate deans for research (ADRs) in your colleges and schools.
In the meantime, all currently active sponsored projects will proceed as normal, and you should continue to submit grant applications under existing policies as you have done previously. If you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to reach out to your ADRs for support or to our office.
Please be assured that UT will continue to advance intellectual inquiry in all scholarly fields, including those related to DEI, while ensuring that these research activities adhere to our longstanding legal framework.
Sincerely,
