Conflict Over Candidate’s Promoting Diversity Leads to Resignation of Texas A&M University President
18th September 2021
Texas A&M University announced on Friday that its president, M. Katherine Banks, has resigned “immediately” amid a conflict over the school’s handling of a candidate who had been set to lead its journalism school but ultimately declined the position due to pushback she received over her work promoting diversity.
The resignation comes after a series of events, including the resignation of the dean overseeing the university’s College of Arts and Sciences and a tense meeting between Dr. Banks and the university’s faculty senate. During the meeting, Dr. Banks expressed regret over the handling of the candidate, Kathleen McElroy, and admitted to being unaware of the details surrounding the shifting offers made to her. However, Hart Blanton, a professor who leads the university’s communication and journalism department, contradicted this version of events, claiming that Dr. Banks had played a more significant role than she admitted.
Dr. Blanton also alleged that the increased scrutiny surrounding Dr. McElroy’s hire was due to her being Black. He further claimed that someone had altered a draft job offer letter, changing it from a multi-year term to just one year, without his knowledge. Dr. Blanton submitted materials related to the hiring debacle to university lawyers and expressed satisfaction at Dr. Banks’s resignation.
This clash over the hiring of Dr. McElroy is the latest incident at the intersection of higher education, diversity, and politics. The signing of a bill by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that bans programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion at publicly funded colleges, along with similar legislation in Florida earlier this year, has heightened tensions in this arena.
The controversy also follows the failed appointment of journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones at the University of North Carolina. Hannah-Jones, affiliated with The New York Times, was denied tenure after being appointed as chair in race and investigative journalism, leading to criticism and heated debates.
In the case of Texas A&M, Dr. McElroy stated that she was promised a five-year contract but was offered only a one-year agreement after complaints from an alumni group and a conservative publication regarding her advocacy for diversity in a previous opinion piece. A group called the Rudder Association, made up of conservative alumni, voiced opposition to what they called “divisive ideology of identity politics.”
Dr. McElroy declined the one-year contract and the situation escalated after The Texas Tribune reported on the conflict. In a statement, she expressed gratitude for the support she received and pledged to share more on the unfolding events in the future.
Texas A&M University, located in College Station, is a large institution known for its traditions, commitment to research, and emphasis on Texas identity. The university has a disproportionately small number of Black students compared to the state’s overall demographics.
Although the reasons behind Texas A&M’s alteration of its offer to Dr. McElroy remain unclear, faculty members criticized the university’s mishandling of the appointment, particularly the perceived political interference and lack of transparency. The faculty senate passed a resolution to establish a committee to investigate the situation further. University system officials have also initiated an investigation into the matter.
The resignation of President Banks highlights the challenges faced by universities as they navigate ongoing debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the role of politics in academic institutions. As Texas A&M moves forward, the focus will be on rebuilding trust and ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.