DES MOINES, Iowa — College students attending Iowa's three public universities will attend classes without diversity, equity and inclusion as a part of their curriculum and with major adjustments to their school's DEI departments.
These changes come after a state law banned DEI programs, forcing the universities to restructure their current departments to meet the state compliance requirements and the board of regents. Local 5 brought you each university's plan back in April.
This past legislative session had Iowa legislators fighting for or against the future of DEI programs and departments within public universities.
The fight to restrict DEI for Iowa's three universities passed both houses and signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds. That new law brought changes to DEI at the Universities of Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa.
Local 5 reached out to the schools' presidents for an interview about the changes and how they impact students. All three presidents declined to participate in an in-person interview and referred Local 5 to a recording of their meeting with the board of regents last April.
Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, has been a trainer of diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural competency for over 20 years. Local 5 asked him how he believes these changes will trickle down to students.
"My concern is that there will be more complaints of discrimination, of sexism, other types of mistreatment, intentional or unintentional, of different cultural groups. And it's not just race, it's not just gender, gender identity," Wilburn said.
Local 5 also reached out to Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Panora, who was a proponent of eliminating DEI programs, but he did not respond.
Drake University is a private school meaning it did not need to adhere to the new law. The university told Local 5 they're expanding their DEI programs this year called Bulldogs Belong: Resilient and thriving.