Following criticism from Governor Greg Abbott and conservative activist Christopher Rufo, Texas A&M University has reversed its decision to sponsor a trip to the PhD Project’s Annual Conference in Chicago. The controversy stemmed from the conference's application criteria, which specified eligibility only for Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, or Native American/Canadian Indigenous students interested in pursuing business doctoral studies. Rufo highlighted the exclusionary nature of the event, arguing that it violated state law and constituted racial segregation.
Governor Abbott responded swiftly to Rufo's post, publicly condemning the university's involvement and threatening the president's position if the situation wasn't rectified. Texas A&M subsequently issued a statement affirming its commitment to SB-17, a state law prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion offices in public colleges, and emphasizing its adherence to non-discrimination policies.
University President Mark A. Welsh III acknowledged that while standard procedures for approving event attendance were followed, the decision to participate in this particular conference did not fully consider the spirit of SB-17. He stated that the conference's racial limitations contradicted the law's intent, leading to the cancellation of the university's sponsorship. Welsh emphasized the need to ensure future event attendance aligns with state guidelines. The decision was communicated to faculty and staff within the Mays Business School.
The PhD Project Annual Conference, organized by the Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC) consortium, is scheduled for March. PREDOC's website describes the application process as "exclusive" and targeted towards historically underrepresented individuals considering business doctoral studies.
Texas A&M responded to Gov. Abbott's threat by canceling an upcoming conference trip. (Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
