To comply with state mandates, Iowa State University (ISU) officially shuttered its DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) office last week. This decision came in response to recent directives from the Iowa Board of Regents and state lawmakers aimed at reducing spending on DEI initiatives across public universities in Iowa.
The closure of the office at ISU resulted in the elimination of five positions, although only two were filled at the time. ISU’s spokeswoman, Angie Hunt, stated that the university’s human resources department assisted the affected employees in accordance with the university’s reorganization policy. One employee successfully transitioned to another unit within the campus, while the other was laid off.
The University of Northern Iowa followed suit by closing its Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice, integrating its functions into the Division of Student Life. Meanwhile, the University of Iowa rebranded its DEI division as the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity, maintaining its commitment to inclusive practices under a new structure.
In the spring, Iowa lawmakers passed a measure which bars public universities in the state from maintaining diversity offices, employing DEI-specific staff, or allocating funds to related activities, except as required for legal compliance or accreditation purposes. The law also allows and encourages individuals to report potential violations to the state attorney general.
In addition to eliminating DEI offices, the board of regents’ directives included restructuring such services to ensure they are accessible to all students and staff, removing diversity-related duties from job descriptions, and prohibiting the consideration of race or other class characteristics in student admissions. Universities are also encouraged to explore strategies for increasing intellectual and philosophical diversity on campus.
Critics of these measures view them as a significant setback to efforts aimed at creating more inclusive and equitable academic environments. These actions reflect a significant policy shift in Iowa’s public universities, raising important questions about the future of diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education and their impact on creating equitable academic communities.
