Texas A&M is offering a certificate in Social Justice Leadership for this fall 2024 semester.
Texas Scorecard received a link to a form where prospective students can request information about nonprofit programs offered by Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service.
The Social Justice Leadership Certificate is a part of the Bush School’s Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy. The Bush School website stated this program “was developed for leaders committed to addressing inequities at nonprofit and public service organizations.”
The course description showed this 10-week program pushes diversity & inclusion. “Research continues to showcase the advantages of diversity and inclusion of salaried and non-paid employees at public and community service organizations,” the website stated. “CSJL Course modules focus on understanding the basics of social justice and its dimensions, the role cultural competency plays in public service, managing and leading diversity initiatives, and creating social change by utilizing learnings to take action.”
A review of the week-to-week topics in the course showed more DEI in the course. Week three’s topic is “Workplace Culture and Dimensions of DEI,” and week four’s is “Employing Leader Behaviors that Impact Equity.” Two weeks are devoted to “Cultural Competency,” a key component of DEI.
The instructor for this course is Dr. Kenneth Anderson Taylor. It runs from September 18 to November 26. On his profile page, he stated that coming to Texas A&M, he aspired toward “contributing to the school’s commitment to President George H. W. Bush’s philosophy of educating principled leaders for public service.”
In June 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a statewide ban on DEI—known as Senate Bill 17. This law prohibits universities from establishing a DEI office, using DEI criteria in their hiring practices, or requiring employees or prospective employees to attend DEI training. However, the restrictions do not apply to academic instruction, student organizations, student admissions, guest speakers, or scholarly research. Texas Scorecard asked Texas A&M (TAMU), and its parent the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) for comment regarding the DEI ban. “Course curriculum is exempt from SB 17 and therefore was not audited by internal audit,” replied Laylan Copelin, TAMUS Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications.
Kelly Brown, TAMU Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, concurred. “Senate Bill 17 specifically exempts academic research and scholarship. It does not apply to academic course instruction, scholarly research or creative work by an institution of higher education’s students, faculty or researchers,” she wrote.
Texas Scorecard asked both Copelin and Brown how the Social Justice Leadership course represents the values of Texas A&M—which is historically considered a bastion of conservative values. Only Brown addressed that in her response. “Having a broad understanding of various ideas enhances students’ academic experiences and prepares them for professional challenges,” she wrote.
