"UT Austin Implements Staff Reductions in Response to Texas DEI Ban"

UT Austin has laid off around 60 staffers, including those focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, in order to comply with Texas' anti-DEI law, Senate Bill 17. The university closed its Multicultural Engagement Center earlier this year and has now announced the closure of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, leading to layoffs. This move comes after concerns from state Sen. Brandon Creighton about universities making superficial changes to comply with the law. The layoffs have raised questions about the future of programs supporting underrepresented groups on campus.