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A sign for the University of North Texas on Nov. 5, 2025, in Denton.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants the University of North Texas to turn over any documentation about its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, arguing the school is breaking state laws to \u201cpush radical DEI ideology.\u201d<\/p>\n
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On Friday, Paxton\u2019s office announced the investigation<\/a>, referencing a hidden-camera recording from a group called Accuracy in Media<\/a> that appeared to show a UNT staffer discussing how DEI concepts appear in social work classes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cTexas law is clear that these DEI policies have no place in our state-funded institutions \u2026 [UNT\u2019s] staff appears to be flaunting the breaking of state law to push radical DEI ideology,\u201d Paxton said in a statement. \u201cThis should result in immediate termination.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He described UNT leadership as \u201csystematically\u201d allowing \u201cthe worst elements of the radical Left to run its campus.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: UNT, TWU are auditing all their classes. Here’s why and where things stand<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Texas public colleges and universities are banned under a 2023 state law from having DEI initiatives,<\/a> including offices, staff, training, programs and activities based on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. Lawmakers exempted course instruction and research from the ban.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n There is no state law that explicitly bans professors from teaching about race, gender identity and sexual orientation in Texas’ public universities.<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s office requested an \u201cexplanation of the claims\u201d made by the UNT staff member and a statement detailing UNT\u2019s compliance with the law, according to a Friday release. He also asked for all of UNT\u2019s DEI policies and guidance, details about DEI in accreditation standards and all correspondence between UNT leadership and staff regarding DEI.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Paxton also called for the firing of the employee seen in the video. A UNT spokesperson said Friday that the staff member is no longer employed by the university.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe views expressed by a UNT staff member in June are inconsistent with the university\u2019s commitments and practices as a public institution to comply with state and federal laws and regulations,\u201d Devynn Case, a UNT spokesperson, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In the hidden-camera video, a person identified as an \u201cundercover journalist\u201d asks the UNT staff member in the College of Public Affairs and Health Sciences whether DEI concepts would be taken out from courses due to state laws. The edited footage appears to show the staffer discussing how DEI is a \u201cfocus\u201d in social work classes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: UNT professors slam program cuts, demand transparency amid budget shortfall<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur classes might be titled something a little different to not specifically have DEI as the class name, but it\u2019s still an element that\u2019s taught,\u201d the employee says in the video.\u00a0<\/p>\n She is heard referring to the \u201canti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion\u201d educational competency \u2014 one of nine core areas that social work students must master \u2014 set by the Council of Social Work Education<\/a>, a nonprofit that sets accreditation standards for bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s programs in social work.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The competency directs students to understand \u201chow racism and oppression shape human experiences\u201d and \u201cuse their knowledge, awareness, and skills to engage in anti-racist practice,\u201d according to the group\u2019s 2022 educational policy and accreditation standards.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s probe comes amid increased political pressure for Texas public universities to restrict how race and gender identity are taught in the classroom. While no state law bars professors from discussing such topics, university leaders have taken steps in recent months to limit faculty from promoting or advocating certain beliefs<\/a> or teaching certain content related to race or sex.\u00a0<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s investigation also marks the second time in a year Paxton has targeted the Denton university. In October 2025, he launched an investigation, arguing the school failed to \u201cward off left-wing violence\u201d<\/a> in the wake of Charlie Kirk\u2019s killing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Who is behind the DEI hidden-camera footage at Texas colleges?<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775016909_917_rawImage.jpg\" "\\"#\\"")
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