MONTGOMERY — Members of the House Ways and Means Education Committee passed legislation repealing a law establishing the University of Alabama's School of Social Work on Tuesday.
The bill by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) would remove the language in state statute that requires the university to continue the program as a standalone college.
The School of Social Work has been plagued by allegations that it pushes diversity, equity, and inclusion and other divisive concepts. An image featured in the school's fundraising pitch shows the Dean, Dr. Schnavia Smith Hatcher, strategically walking past a painting with the words "diversity" and "inclusion" painted on it.
Garrett said the bill wasn't "anti-social work" but would allow the University of Alabama to "continue your program as you see fit."
"All it does is remove the requirement in law that the University of Alabama operate the graduate School of Social Work as a standalone entity. It doesn't repeal that entity. It doesn't say they can't do that. It just says we don't have to do this structure," Garrett said at the committee meeting on Tuesday. "This was established in 1965 by the Legislature. It's the only university in the state that mandates any standalone school. It's the only university in the country we know that has the legislature telling them that you have to have this standalone school. Most of the social work programs and degrees around the country are housed within different colleges or different ways but this is the only university that is required by law to do this. In discussions about the outcome-based funding (with) the university system, they mentioned we can look at a lot of things but we can't look here because we're required to do this."
The bill will now go to the House for its consideration.
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