Union members across the state are calling on candidates in the 2026 midterms to formally adopt a new policy platform centered on protecting higher ed workers and students as attacks on academic freedom continue to mount. (Photo courtesy of UTA)
Staff at both the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas have been fired for allegedly violating the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion ban.
A recruiter at the University of Texas at Arlington has been fired for discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on campus, according to the Fort Worth Report.
In a video published by Accuracy Media—a far-right conservative group that uses undercover actors with hidden cameras to expose what it considers “radical ideology” at universities—a former social work academic recruiter is seen discussing how the university is handling a new statewide ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion on higher ed campuses.
In 2023, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law, which prohibits public institutions of higher education from teaching, promoting, or engaging in DEI initiatives.
It was authored by former Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton, who is now chancellor at Texas Tech University. While there, he’s implemented new policies that restrict how professors can teach gender and sexuality.
In the video, a staff member at UTA explains that the “intention,” “research,” and “practice” professors use regarding DEI is still the same, but they now use different words to abide by the new rule.
“We still have to cover the content, obviously, because it’s a huge part of what we do,” the recruiter said.
According to a statement from UTA provided to the Fort Worth Report, the university is aware of the video and “has been, and will continue to be, fully compliant with all federal and state laws,” and confirmed the employee in the video is no longer employed by the university.
The news comes days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into the University of North Texas, claiming a “woke staff member bragged about illegal teachings.”
Accuracy in Media published a similar undercover video of a field education coordinator from the social work department at UNT explaining how to work around the DEI ban. The staff member explains that those topics must be taught for the programs to receive accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
CSWE-accredited programs are required to teach students to “engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice.” In order to become a licensed social worker in Texas, students must graduate from a CSWE-accredited program.
In both videos from UTA and UNT, each staff member explains that the program must abide by CSWE requirements.
The UNT employee shown in the video was fired by UNT.
Paxton is demanding a statement from the university addressing the claims, as well as a statement detailing UNT’s compliance with SB 17, its DEI policies, and all messages between UNT leadership and staff regarding DEI.
UNT responded to Paxton, stating “the views expressed by a UNT staff member in June are inconsistent with the university’s commitments and practices as a public institution to comply with state and federal laws and regulations.”
The incidents are the latest flash point in what advocates and Democratic lawmakers describe as a growing assault on higher education in Texas. Union members across the state are calling on candidates in the 2026 midterms to formally adopt a new policy platform centered on protecting higher ed workers and students.
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