The University of Houston has banned diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in hiring, becoming the latest public university in Texas to follow a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) that prohibited such statements.

In an email to the university community, University of Houston Chancellor Renu Khator said the school does not require diversity statements from job applicants "in order to ensure compliance with state and federal law."

"The University of Houston System embraces diversity and understands and believes that it is our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds can collaboratively learn, work and serve," Khator said. "We will continue to ensure our policies are consistent with state and federal laws, and we stand against any actions or activities which promote discrimination in the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Khator's announcement comes weeks after Abbott directed all state agencies, including public universities, to cease implementing DEI in hiring practices.

In a February memo to state agencies prohibiting DEI in state hiring practices, Abbott's chief of staff Gardner Pate said DEI policies have been "manipulated to push policies that expressly favor some demographic groups to the detriment of others."

"Rather than increasing diversity in the workplace, these DEI initiatives are having the opposite effect and are being advanced in ways that proactively encourage discrimination in the workplace," Pate said. "Illegally adding DEI requirements as a screening tool in hiring practices or using DEI as a condition of employment leads to the exclusion and alienation of individuals from the workplace."

In addition to the University of Houston, the University of Texas system and Texas A&M University have each announced changes to their institutional DEI programs due to the governor's directive. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-TX) has also singled out banning DEI as a top legislative priority for the Texas legislative session.

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a University of Houston spokesperson said that Khator's memo "serves as a reminder of our policies and that using DEI statements in not a good practice" and added that the university's policy "has not changed."