Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University System, has added sexual orientation and gender identity to its Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
The school, situated in Huntsville, is the first public college outside of a major urban area in Texas to add the protections. The revised policy applies to employment, admission, and campus life and activities.
According to the school’s press release, other schools in the TSU system will vote on a similar change. One other school — Texas State University — already has similar policies. That school is in San Marcos, between Austin and San Antonio. Sul Ross and Lamar are other schools in the TSU system.
Once other schools pass the policy, the Board of Regents is expected change the policy system-wide.
SHSU was founded in 1879 and had 17,618 registered students in the fall 2011 semester. Among the school’s top-ranked programs are theater and dance — housed in a 100,000-square-foot performing arts center.
Dallas County Community College, the state’s largest school, added gender identity to its non-discrimination policies on Jan. 3.
Read SHSU’s full press release here.
