The Iowa Board of Regents has directed the state’s three public universities to eliminate staff positions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that are deemed unnecessary for accreditation or compliance with state and federal law. This decision follows a review prompted by a law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, which criticized the cost of DEI programs at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.
The Board of Regents, dominated by Republican lawmakers, refrained from passing a bill earlier this year that would have mandated the disbandment of DEI programs. Instead, they instructed the universities to restructure their DEI offices, removing functions not essential for accreditation or legal compliance. Rep. Taylor Collins, a key supporter of the bill, commended the regents for these recommendations and hinted at potential future legislation.
Courtney Reyes of LGBTQ rights group One Iowa strongly criticized the board’s decision, describing it as a “gutting” of inclusion efforts. The board’s recommendations include standardizing annual employee guidance, adopting a policy against considering race in admissions, and exploring, rather than developing, a proposal for free speech initiatives.
During public comments, students and alumni expressed concerns about the impact of defunding DEI services on campus communities. The board’s suggestion to enhance ideological diversity in faculty hiring drew criticism, with some seeing a contradiction in promoting one form of diversity while reducing others. Regent Abby Crow questioned the fairness of encouraging diversity while simultaneously cutting DEI programs. Others, like Regent David Barker, argued for a neglected focus on ideological and political diversity within the universities.
