Regents to consider DEI Study Group report and recommendations
The Iowa Board of Regents will consider the report of its three-member Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Study Group at its November 15-16 meeting. No decision has been made on the report or its recommendations yet, as the full Board will discuss and consider them as part of its upcoming meeting.
The DEI Study Group, formed last March to study DEI programs and efforts at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, gathered information from a variety of campus leaders and solicited public input online to form its report.
The report identifies 10 recommendations divided into four broad categories: current structure of DEI and compliance functions, human resources, academic and curricular matters, and free speech and related matters.
In June, Governor Reynolds signed into law Senate File 560. Division V of SF 560 directs the Board of Regents to conduct a comprehensive DEI study and review of Iowa’s public universities. Included in the report are assessments of the following elements from each university:
- Current diversity, equity and inclusion programming, curricula, training and related activities.
- The salary, benefits and any other compensation paid to employees or individuals tasked with furthering an institution of higher learning’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
- Compliance with required applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, court orders, settlement agreements, or executive orders related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Contracts or grants requiring diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the requirements of third-party accreditors or similar entities to assess whether and to what extent these efforts are aligned with the overall mission and purpose of the institution.
The DEI Study Group, which includes Regents David Barker, Jim Lindenmayer and Greta Rouse, will formally present its report to the full Board on November 16 in Cedar Falls, Iowa for discussion and consideration.
