Iowa House passes bills further dismantling DEI programs

DES MOINES — 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 (DEI) programming across not only Iowa’s public universities but its private campuses as well.

The programs aim to assist historically underrepresented and marginalized groups and create an inclusive environment. Republicans contend DEI measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for non-minority students and workers.

“What you bring to the table in skills and mindset, that's what gets you moving forward; not your skin color,” Rep. Henry Stone, a Republican from Forest City who is Asian American, said during floor debate.

“And it is destroying, in my opinion, our country when you teach our kids to go through life looking at everything through the lens of color,” said Stone, who also asked “how much diversity is enough diversity?”.

Democrats — during at times testy exchanges with Republican floor managers — decried the legislation as harmful and misguided efforts that will reverse progress on accessibility and create new barriers to opportunity.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion has helped more women, more veterans, more people with disabilities than anyone else in this entire state,” said Rep. Rob Johnson, a Black minister and Democrat from Des Moines.

“When we talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, we have to remember the impact that it's going to have — not just right now during this vote, but for the generations that will come, for the 11-year-old that sits in the back, for my 3-year-old that's at home,” Johnson said. “To dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion is dismantling the progress that we have made as a state.”

The bills would:

The measures expand on legislation passed by Republican lawmakers last year barring public universities from spending on DEI efforts not required for accreditation or by law. The law, which takes effect this summer, already has led to sweeping changes, including office closures, eliminated jobs and millions in reallocated funds.

Democratic House members of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus, in a letter to colleagues, said embracing DEI “is not just a moral obligation; it is a pathway to innovation, understanding and collective growth.”

Many of Iowa’s private campuses today maintain DEI offices, employees, programming, action plans and statements — including Coe College, Mount Mercy University, Cornell College, Drake University and Grinnell College, among others.

The offices and programs create a culture where all individuals feel valued, respected and heard, and bring together individuals with unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, students and school administrators have told lawmakers.

“These bills are not about improving education or governance, they are about censorship, exclusion and erasing important conversations that prepare students for the real world,” Rep. Mary Madison, a Democrat from West Des Moines and a member of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus, said during floor debate. “They will make our institutions less competitive, less inclusive and potential unaccredited — all while silencing discussion about race, gender, and social structures that are fundamental to a well-rounded education.”

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Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, said he agrees that “diversity enriches our lives … but not when it is used to divide us, which is exactly what DEI programs do.”

“I wish that DEI was as noble as has been suggested in this chamber. I wish it taught us to celebrate our differences, but it doesn't,” Holt said during debate. “In my opinion, DEI at its core is racist, which is one of the reasons we are becoming so divided as a nation. … Indoctrinating young people to see everything through the prism of race is incredibly destructive, creating adversity between people, inequity for those who do not fit the narrative and exclusion for those who do not agree.”

Statewide DEI ban

HF856 would ban state and local governments from funding a diversity, equity and inclusion office or to hire any diversity, equity and inclusion officers.

The bill was amended to expand the DEI ban to include community colleges, and making the lack of a DEI office a prerequisite for Iowa private colleges’ eligibility for the Iowa Tuition Grant program. Other than what is required by federal and state law or accreditation standards, the amendment prohibits an Iowa private college from establishing, sustaining or staffing a DEI office.

The bill does not apply to academic course instruction, research, activities of registered student organizations, guest speakers and performers, or health services provided by licensed professionals.

Private colleges could be reported for potential violations to the Iowa Attorney General, and if the college has failed to comply, it would be ineligible for funding under the Iowa Tuition Grant program for the next academic year.

DEI and critical race theory limitations

HF269 prohibits the Iowa Board of Regents from requiring students to take or compelling faculty to teach classes involving diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory to fulfill general education or any academic program standards.

The bill includes exemptions for programming specifically required by federal antidiscrimination laws and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or if a student is pursuing a degree program primarily focused on racial, ethics, or gender studies.

The bill states it shall not be construed to "limit the academic freedom of any individual course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s own course or to limit the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting."

Universities could sue accreditors

HF295 would allow schools to bring a lawsuit against an accrediting agency that penalizes an institution for "refusing to violate" a state law.

Opponents see it as an effort to shield Iowa colleges and universities from accreditation requirements as a result of the DEI changes.

Higher education advocates last year repeatedly cited accreditation standards in defending DEI initiatives against legislative bans.

Most regional accrediting bodies have some sort of standard related to DEI.

Without accreditation, colleges may have difficulty getting their degrees recognized by prospective employers or licensing boards, and students could have trouble accessing financial aid.

For a college’s students to receive federal financial aid, the college must be accredited, and accreditors must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

UI ‘Center for Intellectual Freedom’

HF437 establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa.

The center will coordinate with the Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State and the Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa to enable shared course offerings. The center is charged with increasing the intellectual diversity of the university’s academic community and fostering civic engagement among students and faculty.

A fiscal note from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates creation of the center would cost $1.5 million per year.

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The bills now head to Iowa Senate, where Sen. Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia and chair of the Senate Education Committee, said they will "receive a proper hearing.“

“I’m willing to at least give them a subcommittee so we can get some feedback from the public and other interested parties,” Evans told The Gazette.

House Republicans said the Board of Regents has agreed to conduct a full review of all academic programs at each university to determine their alignment with the state’s workforce needs and will adopt a policy ensuring annual tuition increases for resident undergraduate students do not exceed a three-year rolling average of the higher education price index. The regents also have agreed to adopt additional transparency measures — including for course syllabuses and university finances that passed through the Higher Education committee as board policy.

The Gazette’s Erin Murphy and Vanessa Miller and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com