Former ISU program director reaches agreement over ‘discriminatory conduct’

The former director of Iowa State University's American Indian Studies Program has agreed to resign Aug. 14 as part of an agreement stemming from allegations the institution engaged in 'discriminatory conduct against him.”

Sidner Larson, associate professor of American Indian Studies, filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission related to the alleged discrimination, but both sides have agreed to settle their differences, according to an April 8 separation agreement made public by the Board of Regents.

Details of Larson's allegations against the institution have not been made public, and Larson didn't return a phone call or an email from The Gazette on Friday. The agreement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, and Larson through it agreed not to sue the university or regents for any alleged violations of local, state, or federal statutes, including the Rehabilitation Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Equal Pay Act, or Iowa Civil Rights Act.

As part of the deal, Larson agreed not to interfere with the operations, recruiting, or management practices of the American Indian Studies Program. And, according to the agreement, Larson must continue to honor no-contact restrictions through the remainder of his employment.

Both sides agreed Larson would continue performing normal job duties through the end of the spring semester, including teaching and holding office hours, and then perform modified job duties this summer.

According to the agreement, Larson must focus all his research efforts on a 'special project,” which involves writing a review or benchmarking of three to five American Indian Studies programs across the country, according to the agreement.

If he completes the project successfully and turns it in by Aug. 10, the university will confer on him emeritus status.

'If Dr. Larson violates university policies in the future, his emeritus status could be revoked,” according to the agreement.

The deal provided Larson continue receiving his regular base pay of $9,111 in March and April and $4,555 in May. He also will get special project pay of $5,000 a month between March and August - totaling $30,000 in additional compensation.

According to Larson's profile on the ISU website, he's a member of 'the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) tribe of the Gros Ventre-Assiniboine Community of Fort Belknap, Montana.” He's helped develop and assess similar programs in the region, according to the profile, and he's written a book, articles, and poems.

l Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com