Dear COEHD faculty and staff,
Hope the end of the semester is treating you gently. I wanted to pass along a quick update on SB 17 and the PAIR review process of COEHD procedures, activities, projects, initiatives, etc. Generally speaking,
the bill restricts any language within hiring practices, benefits, policies, procedures, trainings, and particular programs that demonstrates preference for race, color, or ethnicity. The good news is most of what we submitted from our college
to this point required no modifications or was asked to be eliminated. Two items that were flagged, however:
COEHD’s DEI committee and excerpt within our P&T guidelines.
The DEI committee will be the heavier lift.
After a discussion w Drs. Harris and Castro-Villarreal, we agreed in view
of the tight deadline of December 14th that the current DEI committee be eliminated and in Spring 2024 establish a new committee
version that corresponds closely to the pillars announced in President Eighmy’s recent memo: ADA access, campus climate, and community partnership. We agreed a more prudent and methodical strategy on deciding on committee mission, aims, and desired outcomes
was more advantageous given all the ambiguity and unknowns; e.g., the immediate effects of the bill in the classroom, forthcoming system guidance on SB 17’s effect on grants and contracts, compliance to the multitude of national and federal regulations (e.g.,
SACSCOC). Using the entirety of the spring semester provides time for the present committee to think through how COEHD navigates if not capitalizes on the 3 identified pillars and the allowances under SB 17. Both professors felt that the deciding on committee
scope, aims, and purposes should include students (grad and undergrad) and the process should be data driven incorporating survey feedback. I fully support this plan and look forward to a new iteration of the committee at the end of the coming spring.
As for the P&T Guidelines, the PAIR team determined that the U of Arizona’s guideline language on page 4 of the document must be removed (see below):
“Given the growing evidence that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on women, underrepresented ethnic/racial/sexual groups, family caregivers, and those with health risks, we recognize that more than ever
it is critical to acknowledge and consider issues of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the review of materials…”
I appreciate your assistance in this complex and uncertain process. Please know the review process will continue into the spring as new items surface. Special thanks to REGSS Chair, Dr. Elenes, for serving as our
person in charge of managing COEHD’s involvement in the process.
Feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns.
Mario
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Mario Torres, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education and Human Development
President's Distinguished Professorship
The University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle, Main Building 3.304
San Antonio, TX 78249
Office: 210.458.5200
Fax: 210.458.4487