Texas A&M University Cancels Conference Trip After Gov. Abbott’s Intervention
Texas A&M University abruptly canceled plans to attend the PhD Project’s Annual Conference in Chicago after Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) raised concerns about racial exclusivity in the event’s participation criteria.
The conference, designed for historically underrepresented groups, specifically limited attendance to Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, and Native American/Canadian Indigenous students. The restrictions were highlighted Monday by conservative activist Christopher Rufo, who shared a university promotional image for the event. Rufo criticized the conference’s eligibility requirements as discriminatory, claiming the university’s sponsorship violated Texas’ DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) ban, enacted under Senate Bill 17.
“Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending,” Rufo alleged on X (formerly Twitter). “The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state’s DEI ban.”
Gov. Abbott swiftly responded, warning the university president, Mark A. Welsh III, of potential consequences if the issue was not addressed. “Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the U.S. Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone,” Abbott stated.
Texas A&M promptly issued a public statement affirming its commitment to non-discrimination and compliance with SB-17, which prohibits DEI offices and related activities in public institutions. The university clarified that it does not support any event that excludes individuals based on race, gender, or other factors.
University President Welsh acknowledged the oversight, stating the conference’s race-based eligibility criteria did not align with state law or the university’s policies. “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 said.
As a result, the university withdrew its support for the conference trip. Welsh also emphasized the need for faculty and staff to ensure future event participation complies with Texas law and institutional policies.
The conference, scheduled for March, was organized by the Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC) consortium. PREDOC describes the application process as exclusive, aiming to support historically underrepresented groups in pursuing business doctoral studies.
Gov. Abbott’s office and Texas A&M’s administration have not provided further comments on the incident.
This development follows increased scrutiny of DEI practices in Texas public institutions, reflecting broader national debates about race-based initiatives in higher education.
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