Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates said a recent Fox News video of a University of Iowa employee allegedly admitting to working around DEI policies is “unacceptable.”
The video, posted on Fox News on Tuesday, July 29, does not allow viewers to click or watch the clip. The University of Iowa employee is not identified in a statement released by Gov. Reynolds’ Wednesday, July 30, nor does she elaborate on what the person said.
The video is dated July 2, 2025 and appears to have a University of Iowa watermark in the upper right hand corner. It is unclear who filmed the video and if the alleged University of Iowa employee knows they are being recorded.
The Fox News article accompanying the video said it was filmed “undercover” with a headline “University of Iowa official brags about skirting a ban on DEI.”
Gov. Reynolds submitted the video to Iowa’s attorney general for “review as it relates to Iowa’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Act.”
DEI policies at state universities
Senate File 2435, which went into effect July 1, prohibits the state’s three public universities—the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State — from maintaining or funding DEI offices and prevents the schools from creating new offices. The law also states that the three universities cannot hire anyone to conduct the duties of a DEI office or require anyone to submit a DEI statement.
In her complaint to the attorney general’s office, Reynolds said the video “contains statements by state employees which display blatant disregard for the law and the will of the Legislature – that simply should not be tolerated.”
Iowa attorney general opens investigation of University of Iowa
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird responded to Gov. Reynolds’ formal complaint Wednesday, July 30, noting that “Regent universities must comply with our state laws” referencing the Iowa Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Act, Iowa Code Chapter 19, and an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 22, 2025.
Iowa Board of Regents supports AG’s review of ‘problematic situation’
The Iowa Board of Regents met virtually on Wednesday, July 30 for its regularly scheduled meeting. Regents President Sherry Bates started the meeting by reading a statement in response to the video of the alleged UI employee and the statements from Reynolds and Bird. Bates said the video “is unacceptable.”
“Following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law. Any attempt to skirt the law needs to be dealt with swiftly,” Bates said. “The board fully supports the Attorney General’s review and will take any action needed to correct this very problematic situation.”
The video release comes after the Iowa Board of Regents twice delayed a vote on a new DEI and CRT course policy, citing a need for further review “feedback.” Bates provided further context on the delay and the need for a more “comprehensive” plan for the policy at the meeting on Wednesday.
“One of the primary reasons we are not taking up the DEI CRT policy is that the discussions on how to best implement the ideas that were brought forward are still ongoing,” Bates said. “We have heard from many people on both sides of this specific issue. Because of these decisions, it has become clear that we would be better served by something more comprehensive.”
The Iowa Board of Regents will hold a special meeting in August to discuss the proposed policy restricting the teaching of DEI and CRT.
“Our universities must continue to be places where the free flow of ideas and opinions matter… What we are trying to establish is something broader that addresses underlying concerns, and I think it’s something we can all agree on. We do not want our students to be indoctrinated,” Bates said. “The board and our universities strongly believe in free expression, and we’re being thoughtful and prudent in taking everyone’s views into consideration as we come up with a process that works. The most important thing is that we get this policy right.”
UI President Barbara Wilson says school will ‘comply’ with investigation
University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson also responded to the video and investigation before presenting the University of Iowa’s fiscal year 2026 budget on Wednesday. She addressed the allegations and noted that the university will comply with the attorney general’s investigation.
“The University of Iowa takes these allegations very seriously. Faith in our institution depends on our unwavering commitment to upholding state and federal laws as well as the policies set forth by this board,” Wilson said. “The expectations we have for our faculty and our staff are clear and uncompromising; we adhere to the highest standards of conduct, accountability, and transparency. In response to the report, we have already launched an immediate and comprehensive investigation.”
The University of Iowa is working with the Iowa Board of Regents and the Attorney General’s office to coordinate the investigation. Wilson said the review will be done in “accordance” with the UI’s established procedures to “ensure fairness, accuracy, and impartiality.”
” If at any point we find the policies or laws have been violated, we will take the necessary corrective actions without hesitation,” Wilson said. “I also want to emphasize that while personnel matters must remain confidential, our approach to this situation, like all others, will be guided by our values of integrity, compliance, and responsibility to the public we serve.”
Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education responds to UI video
Rep. Taylor Collins, Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, also released a statement in response to the attorney general’s investigation, focusing on the “DEI bureaucracy” and the Board of Regents’ “abdication of oversight.”
“I share Gov. Reynolds’ concerns and appreciate Attorney General Bird taking up this investigation,” Collins said. “Taxpayers are seeing, firsthand, just how embedded the DEI bureaucracy has become at our institutions of higher education.
However, the persisting issues at University of Iowa are a direct result of the Board of Regent’s abdication of oversight to the universities themselves, and a lack of clear direction from University of Iowa leadership,” Collins continued. “The House Committee on Higher Education stands ready to act if additional steps need to be taken to rid these ideologically driven programs from our state’s universities.”
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Regents say UI employee’s DEI statement is ‘unacceptable,’ will comply with investigation
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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