Amid legislative pressure, Iowa public universities ordered to pause new diversity programs
Iowa's three public universities have been ordered to halt any new diversity, equity and inclusion programs while the Board of Regents reviews existing DEI efforts, Board of Regents President Michael Richards announced Tuesday.
Richards directed the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to "pause the implementation of any new DEI programs."
Three members of the Board of Regents will conduct "a comprehensive study and review" of the DEI programs and efforts already in place at the universities. Richards said in a Tuesday statement that the process will take place "over the next few months."
How the review will be conducted will be decided by Regents David Barker, Jim Lindenmayer and Greta Rouse, said Josh Lehman, board spokesperson. There is no set timeline, but the study is expected to take several months.
"None of the current DEI efforts that (universities) are currently doing are stopping," Lehman stressed in an interview.
University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa officials deferred to Lehman for comment.
The moratorium comes as Iowa Republicans take aim at university diversity programs.
House File 616 would prohibit Iowa's state universities from spending any state appropriation or private funds on a diversity, equity or inclusion office or administrator. The bill advanced through committee but has not been debated on the House Floor.
Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, told reporters Tuesday he still hopes to advance the bill. He argued that DEI offices are "being used to drive a certain political agenda."
"While I appreciate the regents taking this issue seriously, as many Iowans have, I think that we still need to move this legislation forward to continue to dismantle these bureaucracies and make sure this taxpayer money is actually being used for the true benefit of students," Collins said.
In a subcommittee earlier this month, representatives for the Board of Regents told lawmakers a ban on DEI administrators and offices could interfere with federal research contracts, accreditation programs and training that mitigate legal risks.
It may also interfere with demographic-specific scholarships, they said.
More:Following a red state trend, GOP lawmakers take aim at Iowa university diversity programs
Lawmakers amended the bill in committee to specify that it would not prohibit DEI policies that are required as part of a contract with the federal government.
Other Republican-led states have proposed similar restrictions on the diversity, equity and inclusion programming allowed at public universities.
Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Florida Legislature last month to ban DEI programs and "critical race theory" at state colleges.
Reporters Stephen Gruber-Miller and Samantha Hernandez contributed to this story.
Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa universities ordered to halt new diversity, inclusion programs
