Iowa Board of Regents eliminating DEI programs

Des Moines, Iowa – Legislators in Iowa approved the Department of Education’s budget in April, outlawing DEI initiatives in public schools.

Before that statute takes effect the next year, the Board of Regents is now trying to get Iowa’s three public colleges to comply.

The Board of Regents convened on Thursday to discuss their progress in allocating monies and to identify specific adjustments that are required.

Although they and the universities—Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa—are adhering to the adjustments, the board made it clear that more work needs to be done.

Regent David Barker cited multiple examples of institutions failing to close or reorganize DEI-promoting offices.

“It will take a lot of work to achieve compliance because these ideas have been promoted so widely in university administration,” Barker said. “Strategic Plans still require revision, and our presidents must make it clear that they expect our universities to abide by the law, not circumvent it.”

In order to assist guarantee that colleges are not connected to politics, the board said it intends to implement additional adjustments in February of next year.

Additionally, it states that the schools must submit an annual report to Governor Reynolds attesting to their compliance.