Articles Tagged: Diversity, equity and inclusion

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.

After strident pushback from Republican lawmakers who accused the University of Iowa of falling short of its mandate to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus, UI officials on Thursday announced plans to close its renamed “Division of Access, Opportunity and Diversity.”

The city of Cedar Rapids has “paused” internal initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion amid mounting state and federal pressure to dismantle related programming. It’s not alone. Other area municipal and school officials report ongoing assessments of internal practices and programs.

Dozens of people rallied at the Old Capitol in Iowa City Saturday to protest the University of Iowa’s decision to drop three living learning communities in its residence halls. The eliminated LLCs served LGBTQ+, Latinx and Black students.

The University of Iowa’s living learning communities house students with peers who share similar interests or majors in hopes of forming deeper community connections. Administrators confirmed to The Gazette that three of those communities — serving LGBTQ+, Latinx, and Black students — will no longer be offered starting next year.

Also, state lawmakers are once again considering changing Iowa’s legal K-12 school start date

Hoping to shield Iowa’s public universities from potential backlash to policy changes enacted by lawmakers, Republicans pushed forward a bill that would allow them to sue private entities that review the quality of colleges.

Also, the Iowa Senate is advancing new legislation that would require the teaching of fetal development in health and human growth classes

Iowa’s public universities in recent months have made progress on complying with a new law restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion-related spending, training, and programming, but some regents and lawmakers say their work isn’t done.

Featuring Eastern Iowa women who have experienced powerful paths of achievement for themselves, their families and their communities.

DEI entrepreneurs Barb Hanson and Selenthia Jeffersshare stories for those without a voice.

Film’s star traded deep humor for shallow laughs

Just under a year from the July 1, 2025, deadline for Iowa’s public universities to comply with a new state law restricting their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and staffing, Board of Regents President Sherry Bates on Thursday promised the campuses will be fully compliant early — by Dec. 31.

The Community Foundation of Johnson County has postponed a diversity, equity and inclusion training opportunity for nonprofits in the county. The training originally was planned to take place this fall, but will now take place sometime in the spring.

Newly governed by a revised tiered student organization structure the University of Iowa implemented this fall following years of litigation, appeals, and legislative action, the UI chapter of conservative-leaning Young Americans for Freedom next week will host its first big event of the academic year.