Regents poll campuses: How are we doing on free speech?

IOWA CITY — While Iowa’s public universities are busy addressing diversity, equity and inclusion concerns lawmakers began airing in earnest last year, the campuses also are continuing their response to free-speech criticisms that drew the Legislature’s ire four years ago in 2020.

“In a typical week, about how often do you have discussions with people who are different from you?” is among a list of questions on a short free-speech survey recently distributed to about 28,540 faculty and staff and about 69,240 students across the three campuses.

That question — like one asked on a largely identical survey distributed across the universities in November 2021 — asked respondents to indicate the frequency with which they interact with people of a different gender identity, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, religious belief, political ideology, economic background or disability status.

The new free speech survey — with anonymous responses due back March 1 — also asks respondents if they feel comfortable expressing their opinions on and off campus and on social media; if they seek out and listen to people with differing views; if they feel other university faculty and staff do; and if they feel the university provides an environment for free speech.

“The environment at my university allows me to say things I believe even though others might find them offensive,” is one question respondents are asked to grade on a scale of strongly agree to strongly disagree.

Survey ‘will provide a baseline’

Among the 7,062 students who responded to the 2021 survey, 56 percent said they agreed their university fostered an environment for potentially-offensive speech. Of the 10,648 employee respondents, 49 percent said they agreed their university allowed “me to say things I believe.”

“These surveys will provide a baseline for future efforts to assess free speech at the regent universities,” the board reported in February 2022 — foreshadowing follow-up surveys, like the one distributed Jan. 31 across the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

The survey emerged from a list of 10 recommendations proposed in February 2021 by a regents’ Free Speech Committee that looked a lot — in both its genesis, makeup and results — like a diversity, equity and inclusion study group the board formed in March 2023 after another round of lawmaker critique, this time focused on DEI.

The regents’ new DEI study group in November produced a list of 10 recommendations, which since have been re-characterized as “directives,” including one hearkening back to lawmakers’ free-speech worries across the regent campuses.

“Explore a proposal, including cost, to establish a widespread initiative that includes opportunities for education and research on free speech and civic education,” according one of the DEI group’s recommendations, which Republican lawmakers have proposed baking into state law.

“Prior to the November 2024 meeting of the State Board of Regents, each institution of higher education governed by the (board) shall develop and submit to the (regents), the general assembly, and the governor, a proposal related to the establishment of a center, institute, or initiative that is dedicated to expanding opportunities for education and research concerning freedom of speech and civic education,” according to House File 2558, which also would change the Board of Regents structure, how the board sets tuition rates and picks campus presidents and how its campuses deploy DEI efforts.

DEI similarities

Specifically, the bill would eliminate certain DEI functions, review DEI positions and prohibit the campuses from compelling anyone to submit a DEI statement or disclose their preferred pronouns. It also would require the universities to adopt policies barring the use of race or other protected classification in admissions and require employee guidance about the separation of personal political advocacy from job duties.

The bill would mandate university policies and practices advancing the diversity of intellectual and philosophical perspectives among faculty and staff applicants, and it would require the campuses to make all undergraduates complete a for-credit course “devoted to American history and civics” before they graduate.

Despite the universities’ historic emphasis on “shared governance” — allowing faculty and staff to have a say in how the campus operates — the proposed measure would prohibit any faculty senate committee from “having any governance authority over the institution” and instead cast them in “an advisory role.”

Should the bill pass both chambers and be signed into law, it would follow the same course a free speech measure took in 2021 — enacting into law recommendations the regents’ free speech committee proposed.

That bill, among other things, required the universities to adopt policies stating their proper role is to encourage diversity of thought, ideas and opinions while respecting First Amendment rights; allow spontaneous assembly on campus within reason; and keep outdoor spaces open to any invited speaker.

“Applying equally to all faculty members, regardless of position or rank … these policies support your freedom to discuss matters relating to your instructional and scholarly activities, even if some may disagree or even disapprove of your statements,” according to a letter UI President Barbara Wilson disseminated to campus in September. “As the university vigorously supports your intellectual freedom, we ask that you continually dedicate yourselves to the responsibilities that come with that freedom.”

Those responsibilities, according to UI policy, prohibit faculty members from “personal vilification; threatening, intimidating, or abusive language; or conduct that creates a hostile work environment.”

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