Articles Tagged: Diversity, equity and inclusion

Roberts proved Republicans’ points better than Republicans ever could

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights threatened this week to withhold millions in funding from the Cedar Rapids Community School District unless it severed partnerships and disbanded initiatives aimed at promoting equity for students and staff of color.

Eight weeks after the University of Iowa placed on paid administrative leave two employees seen in undercover videos discussing the campus’ compliance with state DEI laws — including one who said the university was “finding ways to operate around it” — the investigation continues.

Instead of passing a new policy banning Iowa’s public universities from requiring students to take courses with “substantial” DEI or CRT content to satisfy any major, minor, or certificate, the Board of Regents — facing fierce backlash — has found an “alternative approach” aiming to avoid “indoctrination of one perspective.”

In an effort to combat ideological bias in higher education, the Iowa Board of Regents had planned to consider a …

The Academy for Scholastic & Personal Success’ summer program provides high school students an education they can’t find in a public school classroom. It teaches students about Black history, literature, math, science and financial literacy. The 2025 summer session concludes Friday with a closing ceremony.

Having heard from dozens of faculty, staff, students and members of the public — not only in Iowa but across the country — Iowa’s Board of Regents is further postponing its vote on a proposed policy to ban “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “critical race theory” requirements for majors, minors, and certificates.

Hearing by email and public comment criticism of a proposal to bar “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “critical race theory” requirements for university majors, minors, or certificates -- Iowa’s Board of Regents on Wednesday committed to reviewing and changing the proposed new policy.

Following campus outcry and accusations it’s violating state code, the Iowa Board of Regents has delayed until next month its final vote on a new policy to bar “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “critical race theory” requirements for majors, minors, or certificates.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed more than a dozen bills into law Tuesday, including a ban on DEI positions in local government and a requirement that Iowa high school students pass a civics test to graduate.

Also in the Capitol Notebook, the Senate advanced a ban on DEI funding for local governments and community colleges

A crowd of angry students and community members armed with signs, chants, and prepared comments convened Wednesday inside the Iowa Board of Regents meeting to oppose its anti-DEI actions and other politically-aligned impositions on the public universities.

The issues illustrate the legislative divide between Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate, which was apparent Thursday as legislation neared the second “funnel” deadline of the 2025 session.

Jacqueline Hunter assumed her role as executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa this month. She brings with her years of experience in education and community engagement.

Iowa House Republicans continued their efforts to reform higher education policies in the state by passing a series of bills Tuesday aiming to — among other things — further curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programming across not only Iowa’s public universities but its private campuses as well.