CEDAR FALLS — Public universities in Iowa have made progress in recent months in complying with a new law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion-related spending, instruction and programming; Cutting jobs, closing offices and reallocating more than $2.1 million from DEI to other universities are priorities — but some regents and lawmakers say their work isn’t done.

“This semester alone, there have been several examples of university administrative offices promoting DEI that have not been eliminated or restructured,” Trustee David Barker said Thursday after hearing an update on changes campuses are making to comply with the new Iowa Code Section 261J.

Although the new law banning campuses from establishing, maintaining or funding DEI offices or staff does not officially go into effect until July 2025, Board of Trustees President Sherry Bates said in September Set a December 31st deadline for full compliance.

On Thursday, Barker said despite all efforts, campuses are not there yet.

“Support for these ideas is so widespread within university administration that ensuring compliance will require great effort,” he said. “Strategic plans still need to be changed, and our presidents need to communicate strongly that they expect their universities to follow the spirit of the law and find ways to get around it.”

Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis — who sponsored a bill banning DEI during the last legislative session The new law was implemented — has criticized campuses’ compliance efforts multiple times this fall, including in an email to the Board of Trustees over the weekend about Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen.

“It is my understanding that President Wintersteen criticized the Legislature’s actions regarding DEI at a recent ISU Alumni Association meeting,” Collins wrote in her email. “I don’t appreciate it, and neither did some members of the board. If Mayor Wintersteen is interested in determining the state’s public policy, then he should run for the House.

“By then, this state is expected to implement the policy its elected policymakers have decided upon,” Collins wrote. “Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Neither he nor Iowa State would elaborate on those comments.

‘There is a lot of work to be done’

Other DEI-related concerns emerging on campuses this fall include the educational materials and videos provided to incoming students at the University of Iowa; professional development materials from Iowa State’s Extension and Outreach office; and a drag show sponsored by UI.

Collins sent a letter to regents on Sept. 23 arguing that they had a “significant amount of work to do,” pointing to DEI training on the UI campus this fall where students are asked to fill out an “identity wheel” to understand advantages and disadvantages. Those who come with certain identities.

According to the training, “Identities that systematically give us an advantage are called privileged identities.” “Everyone has some kind of privileged identity. Having privilege doesn’t mean your life will be easier. But it does mean there are fewer systemic barriers to overcome around identity.”

In Collins’ letter, she asked UI President Barbara Wilson to fire the director of orientation services, writing: “If the board is serious about complying with the rules, Senate File 2435You will make it clear that the most flagrant violation of the purpose of this law will not be tolerated.

He also criticized UI’s decision to rename the central DEI office rather than closing it entirely. Like at Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa.

But this week’s regent report on campuses’ compliance efforts shows that UI administration is actually closing an office, given that the central DEI division consists of the Office of Institutional Equity, the Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence, and the Office of Inclusive Education and Strategic Initiatives.

“The office primarily responsible for the University’s DEI efforts (IESI) has been eliminated,” according to the report. “The remaining two units have been reorganized and reorganized into a new division: Access, Opportunity and Diversity.”

While the new Iowa Code section only considers DEI offices, employees, and training not required by state and federal laws or compliance standards, this week’s proxy report highlighted ways existing offices and employees are complying with state and federal mandates.

“The Office of Equal Opportunity meets the definition of a Section 261J DEI office, but the services and programming it provides are necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal law,” according to an ISU section of the report highlighting the office’s investigative work. and to resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment, provide training on civil rights obligations, and administer the ISU affirmative action plan.

But during Thursday’s meeting, Regent Barker said he didn’t see any state or federal law requiring a DEI office in any way.

“The new Iowa law says trustee universities may not maintain a DEI office unless required by law or accreditation standards,” Barker said. “Today’s report does not include any laws or accreditation standards requiring our universities to maintain DEI offices. “There is no law or accreditation standard that even mentions a DEI office, making it difficult to claim that such an office is ‘provided by law or accreditation standards.’”

‘There may be some changes’

In addition to closing offices, all three campuses reviewed positions that could potentially perform DEI functions, including 77 at the University of Iowa. 11 of them were eliminated; among them were six positions left vacant during a recent hiring freeze.

Those cuts amounted to $868,219 in savings “for other student success and programming needs.”

Iowa State’s closing of its central DEI office resulted in the elimination of five positions; Approximately $789,000 was reallocated to other priorities. UNI examined 25 jobs performing DEI functions; By cutting five jobs and reassigning one, he saved $486,144.

“When you break down DEI, I don’t think anyone is against diversity,” Trustee Jim Lindenmayer said in thanking campuses for their work.

“We all know that diversity of thought is good. Diversity of perception is good. “We know that our world is becoming more diverse,” he said. “Fairness is something we all stand for, believe in and live every day. And certainly inclusion is something we all want.”

The problem, he said, is its institutionalization.

“We’ve institutionalized these things and perhaps gone too far in some cases,” he said.

Although Board Chair Sherry Bates said Thursday that “Universities have completed most of their work,” she also said regent review and oversight of the matter will not be static.

“We direct each university to establish a process for ongoing review of existing and new programs,” he said.

And Barker said, “The report is just a start,” citing momentum toward direct legislation.

“The law is designed to keep the university administration out of politics,” he said. “Professors can conduct research and take controversial ideas wherever they go, but the university itself must be neutral on politics and controversial issues.”

On the issue of policy and the idea that some campuses’ DEI efforts are aimed at federal compliance, provost Robert Cramer asked: this week’s presidential election may have an impact.

“Perhaps with this change in administration, the Department of Education will not oppose what we are doing,” Cramer said.

“Everyone this week is still trying to figure out what this all means,” Barker said. “But there could definitely be some changes.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education at The Gazette.

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