April 9, 2024

Dear, Faculty, Staff and Students,

Last year we made several organizational changes to comply with Texas Senate Bill 17 (SB 17). This legislation prohibits public universities from maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and from conducting or supporting DEI activities, trainings and programs. Our actions ensured that we were fully compliant with SB 17 as of January 1, 2024, the effective date of the legislation.

Since then, we have continued to evaluate our SB 17 response and how to realign many of the programs impacted by the legislation.

As a result, effective April 30, 2024, the Office of Campus Resources and Support (OCRS) and approximately 20 associated jobs will be eliminated. A limited number of functions will be moved to other administrative units to ensure continuity of services to our students, faculty and staff. Of note, the AccessAbility Resource Center (ARC) will continue to provide disability and accessibility services to students under the Office of Academic Affairs. Disability and accessibility services for employees will move to Human Resources.

Employees affected by the elimination of these positions have been notified, and the Office of Human Resources is working to support them. Student workers will retain their jobs through the end of the semester, and we will help them find other options for the future. 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.

I know that this decision will not be welcomed by many in our campus community. 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.