Texas A&M has backed out of plans to send some of its faculty and staff to a conference that excludes white and Asian attendees after a social media firestorm and a stern reprimand from the governor.
“This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB-17, and, as a result, we will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference,” stated a Tuesday memo from President Mark Welsh to the Mays Business School.
The memo was provided to The College Fix on Wednesday by the university’s media relations division.
Welsh, in his memo, refers to SB 17, which was approved in 2023 and prohibits “promoting differential treatment of or providing special benefits to individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity.” It also prohibits DEI offices, or requiring DEI statements or trainings.
“While the proper process for reviewing and approving attendance at such events was followed, I don’t believe we fully considered the spirit of our state law in making the initial decision to participate,” Welsh’s memo stated.
The situation first drew attention due to a Jan. 13 post on X by education watchdog Christopher Rufo, who posted internal Texas A&M emails between faculty members assembling a delegation to The PhD Conference.
“Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending,” Rufo stated on X. “The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state’s DEI ban. @TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law.”
EXCLUSIVE: Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending. The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state’s DEI ban.@TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law. pic.twitter.com/pFWYnZdweE
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) January 13, 2025
According to the conference’s website, “To be eligible for the annual conference, you must:
-Identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, or Native American/Canadian Indigenous.” Notably this excludes white or Asian guests.
The conference is designed to “give prospective doctoral students a realistic look at every phase of the PhD journey as well as an opportunity to network,” its website states.
The leaked internal emails note that the faculty members “have consulted with Texas A&M’s Office of General Counsel regarding Mays’ support of The PhD Project to ensure compliance with SB17.” The faculty member sums up the conference delegation as exempt from SB 17 under the recruitment exemptions in the law.
But a post on X from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in response to Rufo’s allegations said that A&M’s attendance at the conference was “against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”
Following the governor’s comment, Welsh recalled the university’s involvement.
Texas A&M’s X account posted the following statement Jan. 13 as well: “Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.”
The PhD project did not respond to requests for comment from The College Fix.
MORE: Alabama’s anti-DEI law violates Constitution, new lawsuit alleges
IMAGE: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.