U of North Texas removes DEI-related phrases from course names

Phrases like “race” and “fairness” have been faraway from 78 course titles on the College of North Texas, The Dallas Morning Information reported.

In accordance with an electronic mail from one school member to his colleagues, the adjustments got here on account of Texas’ anti–variety, fairness and inclusion invoice SB 17, which went into impact final January, and an order from Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick’s for lawmakers to evaluation college syllabi for DEI content material. SB 17 bans DEI places of work and applications however particularly carves out an exception for course instruction.

However a UNT spokesperson informed the Morning Information that the adjustments weren’t associated to SB 17 and have been as an alternative a part of a routine curriculum evaluation and replace.

The identify adjustments sparked backlash from school in addition to exterior organizations like PEN America, a free expression nonprofit, which known as the transfer “excessive overcompliance.”

The adjustments come shortly after the board of one other Texas college system, Texas A&M College, eradicated its LGBTQ+ research minor. Although that minimize got here as a part of the termination of 52 low-enrollment applications, Republican state consultant Brian Harrison took credit score for the transfer in an interview with Inside Greater Ed, saying he hoped to finish different comparable applications elsewhere within the state.

Different lawmakers additionally appear involved about programs on DEI-related subjects. The Morning Information reported that in a gathering of the Texas Senate’s increased schooling subcommittee final week, committee chief Brandon Creighton, SB 17’s sponsor, mentioned, “Whereas DEI-related curriculum and course content material doesn’t explicitly violate the letter of the regulation, it certainly contradicts its spirit.”