Katy Edition | April 2023

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2012-16 2017-21 DEMOGRAPHICS OF KATY ISD BOUNDARIES The Katy area saw its population become more diverse from 2016-21. Recent data from area colleges show that student demographics mirror the diversity of Houston as a whole as well as the increasing diversity of the Katy area. The demographics of sta, however, do not necessarily reect the student bodies. Measuring diversity

address held Feb. 16 at the Houston Community College Katy campus, HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges said growing diversity is helping eco- nomic growth. To accommodate, he said HCCKaty is rushing to oer English language learning courses. “Katy is changing. We are seeing [Katy] Asian Town and the positive inuence that it has on our commu- nity, and what an economic resource that is,” Hodges said of the marketplace of Asian businesses located near the Katy instructional site. “It is a changing world, and we have to do whatever we can to embrace that.” HCC, University of Houston and Uni- versity of Houston-Victoria—which all have instructional sites in Katy—have diversity and inclusion oces, services and programs that guide the college systems and promote equitable prac- tices among sta and students. Despite rising diversity and invest- ment in DEI programs in higher edu- cation, a Feb. 4 memo from Gov. Greg Abbott’s chief of sta, Gardner Pate, warned public universities against the use of diversity statements in hir- ing and the use of taxpayer dollars to establish diversity oces and pro- grams, challenging their legality and citing supposed favoritism of certain demographic groups. State legislators have also led bills during the 88th legislative session to prohibit DEI departments and princi- ples in hiring at public universities. Demographic diversity Data from UH and UHV show the racial demographics of faculty are not as reective of the Greater Houston area as their student populations. Shawn Lindsey, University of Hous- ton’s associate vice chancellor for media relations, said UH’s student body reects Houston’s shifting demo- graphics. She said Asian, Hispanic and African American residents account for 17%, 39% and 8% of Houston resi- dents, respectively—while Asian, His- panic and African American students accounted for 22%, 33% and 10.9% of the fall 2022 student body, respectively, per data from the college system. Meanwhile, fall 2022 data shows 57.2% of UH’s faculty was white. Following the letter from Abbott’s oce, UH Chancellor Renu Khator released a statement March 3 that the college system “will not support or use DEI statements or factors in hiring or promotion” to comply with the law.

But Lindsey said the college does not exclude applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. “The UH system is an equal oppor- tunity employer with a commitment to diversity,” Lindsey said in an email. Similar to UH, UHV fall 2022 data showed 40.4% of all its student body was Hispanic, while African American students made up 15.1%. However, His- panic and African American employees make up about 28% and 8% of total employees, respectively. Data requests from HCC’s oce of diversity, equity and inclusion were unanswered by press time, but a spring 2023 fact sheet showed 40.6% of 44,130 students are Hispanic, 27% are Black, 13.4% are Asian, and 12.2% are white. Per HCC’s institutional prole updated in June, 37% of its employees were Black, 31% were white, 18% were Hispanic, and 11% were Asian. Political pushback Despite these numbers, the memo from Abbott’s oce called diversity statements—or questions about how one might accommodate diversity at an institution—illegal. “We celebrate the diversity of our state and the presence of a workforce that represents our rich culture,” the statement said. “In recent years, how- ever, the innocuous-sounding notion of diversity, equity and inclusion has been manipulated to push policies that expressly favor some demographic groups to the detriment of others.” Similarly, Senate Bill 17, led March 10 by Sen. Brandon Creighton, RConroe, would prohibit diversity statements in hiring, ban oces that focus on DEI eorts and expand the powers of boards of regents in hiring top admin- istrators at their universities. Richard Baker, who serves as the Title IX coordinator and executive director for institutional equity and equal employment opportunity at Rice University, said he believes practicing DEI at college campuses is not inher- ently discriminatory or unlawful. “[They ensure] that identity is acknowledged, and that everyone is given an opportunity to participate in the program, activity, initiative, or the organization, at the same rate and level as another person,” Baker said. Challenges to DEI programs could aect funding for public universities, said Martha Snyder, managing director of consulting rm HCM Strategists.

50%

“KATY IS CHANGING ... AND WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO EMBRACE THAT” ZACHARY HODGES, HOUSTON

40%

30%

COMMUNITY COLLEGE NORTHWEST PRESIDENT

20%

10%

White Black Hispanic

Other

Asian

2 or more races

Native American or Alaska Native

FALL 2022 COLLEGE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS Data from local colleges shows diverse student bodies as well. Hispanic students are the largest demographic group. HCC data is from spring 2023.

University of Houston-Victoria

UH Houston Community College

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

White

Black/African American

Hispanic

Asian

Other*

FALL 2022 COLLEGE STAFF DEMOGRAPHICS Despite diverse student bodies, the majority of college sta at UH and UHV are white. But HCC data from June 2022 shows 37% of its employees are Black.

University of Houston-Victoria

Houston Community College

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

White

Black/African American

Hispanic

Asian

Other*

SOURCES: HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTONVICTORIA, U.S. CENSUSCOMMUNITY IMPACT *OTHER MAY INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, DEMOGRAPHICS NOT LISTED OR STUDENTS OF MORE THAN ONE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP.

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