No. Hiring (selecting a particular qualified applicant for a position) must be conducted in accordance with system and university policy which has always been, and continues to be, that faculty members are hired based on merit. Merit can include notable scholarship on a particular topic, awarded grants, education, and experience. As noted above, SB 17, as well as the Chancellor, has stated the System cannot “compel, require, induce or solicit any person to provide a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement, or give preferential consideration to any person, based on the provision of a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement.” TAMUS should continue to hire on merit. However, we can take actions to recruit a diverse pool of applicants from which to select the best qualified person for the position, consistent with federal requirements, such as Executive Order 11246. Applicant pools should be as diverse as possible to hire the best applicants. Advertising jobs in non-traditional outlets/sources is encouraged.