Texas Colleges Face Increased Scrutiny as New website Launches for DEI Complaint Reporting
Texas public higher education institutions are bracing for a new level of oversight as students gain the ability to report perceived violations of state policies concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Last weekend, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman unveiled a new website, studentsfirst.texas.gov, designed to facilitate the submission of complaints regarding courses perhaps breaching the stipulations of Senate Bills 17 and 37.
The launch of this platform coincides with a broader effort by public institutions to review their curricula to ensure compliance with the recently enacted state regulations. State officials have called for comprehensive course audits, set to begin this year, signaling a significant shift in the landscape of higher education in Texas.
Senate Bill 17, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 and taking effect in 2024, effectively prohibits DEI programs and initiatives within the state’s public colleges and universities. Building upon this legislation, Senate Bill 37, passed and enacted in 2025, reinforces the ban while simultaneously increasing governmental oversight. This includes mandated curriculum reviews, a reduction in the authority of faculty senates, and the creation of the ombudsman office itself.
Leading this new office is Brandon L. Simmons, a Houston business professor appointed by Gov. Abbott. Simmons,who previously served on the Texas Southern University board of Regents,is tasked with investigating complaints related to colleges’ and universities’ adherence to these state laws. “Through a user-friendly website and engagement on campuses across Texas, I look forward to a collaborative, productive partnership with our institutional leaders and students,” Simmons stated in an announcement on October 16.
According to guidance released by Simmons’ office, complaints will fall into two primary categories: statutory complaints alleging violations of state policies, such as those outlined in SB 17, and feedback concerning the implementation of these policies.Individuals submitting complaints found to be knowingly false will be held financially responsible for the costs associated with the investigation.
“The office may refuse to investigate a future complaint filed by an individual who is found to have knowingly filed a false complaint,” the office’s published guidance clarifies.
The new legislation has drawn criticism from educators and advocates, who argue that it focuses on censoring lessons and stifling open dialog.Instances of such discussions already have resulted in the termination of Texas educators and subsequent legal challenges.
Last fall, Texas A&M University dismissed melissa McCoul following the viral spread of a secret recording of a lecture on gender identity during a children’s literacy course. the Texas A&M System further instructed campus presidents to approve any course content potentially addressing gender identity or race ideology, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
“Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers’ clamor for the dismissal of professors who say things they disagree with is censorship and fundamentally antithetical to academic freedom and the mission of higher education,” said state Rep. Donna Howard, in a statement issued in September.
This story is a collaboration between The San Antonio Report and Open Campus,providing comprehensive coverage of higher education issues.
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