Texas A&M University has been at the center of controversy after reassigning and giving a raise to the head of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department in response to a state law banning such practices on college campuses. Governor Greg Abbott signed a law in June 2023 prohibiting DEI efforts at universities in Texas. Documents obtained by Fox News Digital revealed that several DEI employees at Texas A&M were reassigned to other departments, with the vice president of the program receiving a raise, new position, and paid leave.
In August 2023, Annie McGowan, the vice president for diversity, received a 10% raise, during which she was recognized for her performance and issues of equity. Critics, such as Dr. Stanley Goldfarb of Do No Harm, expressed concerns that the university was attempting to embed DEI ideology throughout various departments, essentially bypassing the new law. This move has been viewed as a way to continue encouraging DEI practices despite the ban, leading to questions about the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional trust.
Texas A&M defended its actions by stating that it remains committed to creating a welcoming environment for all individuals at the institution. The university’s president emphasized that diversity of thought is essential for academic success and will continue to be maintained, even in light of the new law. However, other universities in Texas have also indicated that they plan to continue promoting DEI principles, raising further concerns about how the legislation will be enforced and whether financial penalties will be imposed on those who do not comply.
The state law has prompted Texas universities to make changes to their DEI departments, including layoffs and reassignments. Republican lawmakers, such as State Senator Brandon Creighton and State Rep. Brian Harrison, have warned that universities must adhere to the new legislation and not attempt to circumvent it through deceptive means. They have stressed that they are committed to ensuring taxpayer funds are not used to support leftist ideologies in higher education. Texas A&M University clarified that the raise given to McGowan was based on merit and fairness relative to her peers, rather than related to DEI practices.
The university eliminated all DEI-related job duties and programs prior to the law going into effect, and individuals were given the opportunity to transition to new positions within the institution. While some employees chose to leave, others accepted new roles with different responsibilities. The university’s Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness group worked with supervisors to remove all DEI-related duties from affected employees while creating new responsibilities. Republican lawmakers in Texas are actively monitoring universities to ensure that they are complying with the anti-DEI law and not engaging in practices that violate it.
