UT System fully complies with DEI ban, state audit finds

June 14, 2026 - 10:57

A state audit has determined that the University of Texas System is fully following the 2023 law that banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices across public colleges. The review, conducted by the Texas State Auditor's Office, examined how the system's 14 institutions responded to Senate Bill 17, which took effect last year.

The law required all public universities to eliminate DEI offices, end mandatory diversity training, and stop using race, sex, or ethnicity as factors in hiring or admissions. In response, UT campuses fired employees whose roles were tied to DEI work and shut down programs focused on ethnic or LGBTQ identities. The audit found no evidence that any university in the system continued to operate prohibited offices or activities after the deadline.

Officials said the system acted quickly to comply. Campuses reassigned some staff to other roles and removed DEI-related language from official documents and websites. The audit also noted that universities were required to certify their compliance in writing.

Supporters of the ban argued that DEI programs promoted division and violated the principle of equal treatment under the law. Critics, however, said the law damaged efforts to support historically marginalized students and faculty. Some student groups and faculty members have continued to push back, but the audit confirms that the UT System has fully adapted to the new legal landscape.