Texas lawmakers are watching how DEI is integrated into college courses and how much influence faculty senates have on campuses.

A group of senators met Monday to debate two issues that are some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative agenda for next year’s session.

Patrick wants lawmakers to review the role of faculty senates and enforce Texas’ ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state colleges and universities.

The DEI ban, which passed last year, has exceptions for research and course instruction. However, during Monday’s hearing, lawmakers suggested that instruction could be the next target.

“While the curriculum and course content related to DEI do not explicitly violate the letter of the law, they do in fact contradict its spirit,” said Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, author of the DEI ban and supervisor of the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who opposes the DEI ban, said that as universities reviewed the programs, “they have not revealed any smoking gun, showing that DEI is racist or exclusionary, as some of my colleagues continue to suggest.”

West emphasized that while many associate DEI with race, DEI programs eliminated to comply with the new law included those for veterans and various teacher support groups.

He questioned Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III about academic minors that were eliminated last week, including one for LGBTQ studies.

The Dallas senator asked if there was political motivation behind the decision to cut that specific minor. Welsh denied it.

A&M professors have complained about the way university officials eliminate these programs without consulting them. Welsh agreed that teachers were not “sufficiently” involved in that decision, but will be involved in the future.

Creighton said it has received multiple reports of college courses having DEI content integrated into various fields of study. The subcommittee’s goal is to examine programs and certificates that “perpetuate any discriminatory efforts within diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said.

Courses containing such lessons do not “reflect the expectations of Texas taxpayers and students who fund our public universities,” Creighton said.

Much of the day’s focus explored how the politics of faculty senate members potentially play a role in what is taught on campuses.

He repeatedly asked whether political interference from professors influences decisions and votes for program approval.

Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas at Austin, highlighted that the new courses are implemented based on market demand.

Holley Love, president of the University of Houston faculty senate, said professors’ political leanings do not affect decisions about what is taught. Creighton pressed by asking if he had seen any examples of teachers developing a curriculum based on political leanings. She said no.

During public testimony, dozens spoke in support of DEI and faculty senates. Most were current and former students at Texas universities, as well as professors.

Many called on lawmakers to repeal the state law that now prevents public colleges and universities from having DEI offices and programs that are specific to certain races or genders, arguing that DEI creates an inclusive environment for students who were historically excluded from the higher education.

Critics of DEI say DEI favors race or gender over merit and stifles free speech by forcing people to believe in the same belief system.

Guest panelists opposing the inclusion of DEI in various university courses included Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Nick Down of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

Sylvester said the culture on Texas campuses “revolves around identity politics, gender and race theory, and a fundamental belief that America was built and maintained on systemic racism, oppression, and privilege.”

It is essential that the subcommittee examine what is taught in university classrooms, Sylvester added.

The DEI ban was passed last legislative session and went into effect Jan. 1 and has affected DEI offices, LGBTQ centers, scholarships, immigrant student programs and others.

The group of senators “will review how these programs and their curricula are misaligned with our state’s workforce demands and recommend reforms to ensure that universities educate students in ways that meet the current needs of the Texas workforce,” Creighton said.

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