More than 140 employees, from at least a dozen taxpayer-subsidized universities, are scheduled to participate in a journalism conference that the University of North Texas has already said violates state law by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion themes.
At issue is an August conference sponsored by the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). This group currently has “commissions” on LGBTQIA+ communities, the status of minorities, and the status of women and has passed many resolutions on topics of identity politics.
Texas Scorecard reported last week on the University of North Texas’ decision not to reimburse travel expenses for Professor Tracy Everbach’s attendance at this conference. A UNT policy memo outlined five alleged violations of the Texas Education Code related to racialized and sexualized content.
Everbach, however, is far from the only employee at a taxpayer-subsidized university in the Lone Star State participating in this conference.
The conference schedule lists more than 140 employees of institutions subsidized by Texas taxpayers. Of those, the overwhelming majority are faculty members, although a handful appear to be graduate students or in other employment categories.
UT-Austin leads with 52 affiliated personnel listed on the conference schedule. Texas Tech follows with 46. UNT has 13 additional attendees beyond Everbach, while Texas State has 11. Other Texas institutions comprise the difference.
The total number is below:
- UT-Austin – 52
- Texas Tech – 46
- UNT – 14 (including Tracy Everbach)
- Texas State – 11
- Texas A&M – 7
- UT-Arlington – 3
- University of Houston – 2
- UT-Rio Grande Valley – 2
- West Texas A&M – 2
- UT-El Paso – 1
- A&M Corpus – 1
- A&M Intl. – 1
- Sul Ross State – 1
In addition, at least four private institutions (Texas Christian University, Baylor, Abilene Christian, and Southern Methodist University) have personnel listed.
While the overwhelming majority of conference participants are scheduled in person, and would thus qualify for travel expense reimbursement, a handful are not.
Sul Ross State specifically clarified that its employee was presenting research “in poster format, but she is not traveling to the conference.”
Texas Scorecard sent questions to every institution subsidized by Texas taxpayers listed on the conference schedule, including a question regarding employee travel reimbursement. None replied with the requested information.
If you are a student, parent, faculty member, or concerned citizen who would like to partner with us to promote transparency in taxpayer-subsidized higher education, please email scorecardtips@protonmail.com.
