UT-Dallas to close Office of Campus Resources and Support, eliminate 20 jobs

The University of Texas at Dallas is closing its Office of Campus Resources and Support effective April 30 and eliminating about 20 associated jobs as part of the school's reevaluation of its services in light of Senate Bill 17, a state law that went into effect in January banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, President Richard Benson announced Tuesday.

"I know that this decision will not be welcomed by many in our campus community," Benson said in an email to the campus. "I remain committed to ensuring that UT Dallas is a supportive community focused on developing the knowledge, the research and the people that are vital to our future. Thank you all for your ongoing work and commitment to these goals."

The Office of Campus Resources and Support was a new office the school opened Jan. 1 "to ensure UT Dallas can continue to meet the needs" of its students in a way that complied with SB 17 after the school closed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Dec. 31, according to its website. The office's mission was to enhance "student community-building and supporting employees and employee resource groups."

Benson's announcement came exactly a week after the University of Texas at Austin announced it was closing its Division of Campus and Community Engagement, formerly the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. The American-Statesman confirmed last week that at least 60 staff members at UT who previously performed DEI-related duties, many in the new Campus and Community Engagement Division, had been notified that they would lose their positions effective in 90 days or more.

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Alexander De Jesus Colón, a senior at UT-Dallas who had heavily organized against SB 17 with Texas Students for DEI last year, said the news brought "rage and sadness."

"At first I kind of (took a) double take," De Jesus Colón said. "Like, is this a joke? A really bad joke?"

He said students had been assured that UT-Dallas had fully complied with SB 17 by Jan. 1. There was "no longer DEI" at the institution, and the Office of Campus Resources and Support was a community center, a place for cultural dialogue and support for students, from clothing to scholarships.

"We don't know what will survive and what will be dissolved," De Jesus Colón said.

Benson said in his email that the AccessAbility Resource Center as well as disability and accessibility services will be moved to different departments. Student workers affected by the cuts will keep their jobs through the end of the semester, he said.

"Employees whose positions are being eliminated may apply for any open position at UT Dallas, and I encourage hiring managers to give these experienced and talented individuals careful review when making their hiring decisions," Benson said.

The announcements by both UT System universities come after the law's author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, sent a letter to all state university chancellors and boards of regents warning them to fully comply with SB 17 in advance of a Senate Education Committee hearing in May in which lawmakers are expected to hear from administrators how their universities are carrying out the intent of the law.

"Our actions ensured that we were fully compliant with SB 17 as of January 1, 2024, the effective date of the legislation," Benson said in his email. "Since then, we have continued to evaluate our SB 17 response and how to realign many of the programs impacted by the legislation."

Nandita Kumar, a second-year student at UT-Dallas and chair of the Student Government's Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee, said she is leading a coalition with other student organizations to make up the resources lost by the support office's closure and other SB 17-related changes at the school.

"We need to all leverage the resources we have to ensure that this bill does not continue to drastically impact the student body and impact students all across Texas," Kumar said.

This decision took away remaining "critical support resources" that were deemed compliant with SB 17, such as safe spaces for marginalized students to gather, Kumar said. The coalition, launched Tuesday, is student-led and aims to connect with partners who can help student groups, who are exempt from the law, continue to support students.

Communication, understanding resources lost and establishing community partners, and creating a financial support plan for student groups are the three focuses of the Coalition of Agents for Student Advocacy, or CASA, she said.

"Casa also means 'home' in Spanish, and so we are trying to make this university a home for everyone," Kumar said. "That includes making sure they're supported with all their other identities, whatever that may look like."

UT-Dallas' communications office did not immediately return a Statesman request for comment Tuesday. On Wednesday, it directed all requests to Benson's announcement.

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Both UT-Austin and UT-Dallas previously said they had taken all the steps necessary to be compliant with SB 17 before Jan. 1.

De Jesus Colón said the announcement was a "crushing blow" after already adapting to the legislation and changes.

"At the very least, people could feel a community, and now that's gone as well," De Jesus Colón said. "What's next?"

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: UT-Dallas to close Office of Campus Resources and Support