The Iowa Board of Regents plans to regularly review university courses for “substantial” DEI or critical race theory content.
A revision to the Regents’ Academic Program Review allows the board to analyze all undergraduate general education courses every two years at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
The board approved the first reading on April 22. The second and final reading passed on Tuesday, June 16, in a 5-3 vote.
Board documents note that staff will start conducting the reviews during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Board President speaks on academic policy
Regents President Robert Cramer said a disconnect between the Regents and the Iowa Legislature was uncovered in the most recent legislative session, noting that DEI or critical race theory isn’t as widespread as legislators believe.
“This (policy) is a way for the board to know what is going on in general education and what’s required,” Cramer said. “We are going to look and see what the DEI content is, but we’ll probably find out that there’s not nearly as much as what the legislature thinks.”
Cramer said the Regents believe the majority of faculty are presenting DEI in a “fair and professional manner of describing what these things are but not pushing an agenda one way or the other,” but improved transparency is good for “all of us to know just what’s going on.”
The Regents will not eliminate classes because of the policy, nor will it add required credits, Cramer noted.
New Iowa code limits DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities
The new policy arrives nearly a year after a new Iowa Code was established to impose diversity, equity, and inclusion restrictions at all three of Iowa’s public universities.
Senate File 243 prohibits the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State from maintaining or funding DEI offices and from creating new ones. 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.
The three universities have collectively redirected more than $2.1 million from diversity, equity, and inclusion roles and offices in response to the new law.
Proposed DEI, critical race theory policy delayed twice in 2025
The Regents twice delayed a vote on a similar course policy in 2025, citing a need to further review feedback.
The proposal that appeared before the Regents in June 2025 would have allowed a student to opt out of “required” courses in their major, minor, or certificate that have “substantial content that conveys diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or Critical Race Theory (CRT),” unless the Regents approve it as an exception. The policy would have restricted professors from “presenting contested, controversial ideas as settled fact.”
The new policy does not include a provision allowing students to opt out of classes.
Regents pushback on DEI review
Regent Nancy Dunkel said she appreciated the motivation behind the policy, because “we all want our universities to provide an education that’s rigorous, fair, and focused on the pursuit of knowledge rather than political advocacy.” Yet she was skeptical whether the Regents should review the courses.
“We want students to be exposed to different viewpoints and to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate ideas for themselves,” Dunkel said. “But the question is not whether those goals are important, but whether requiring the Regent office to review courses for DEI or critical race theory is the right way to achieve that, and I don’t believe it is.”
Dunkel said the issue should not be whether race, inequality, history, public policy, and culture can be discussed, but that they are “taught in a way that encourages inquiry, evidence, and critical analysis.”
“A strong university does not avoid difficult subjects,” Dunkel said. “It teaches students how to engage them thoughtfully.”
She said it’s the board’s job to govern, while reviewing class content moves the Regents into a management role.
“We risk creating a new layer of bureaucracy while weakening the distinction between oversight and direct academic control,” Dunkel said.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Regents to review course content for DEI at Iowa public universities
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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By Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune | USA TODAY Network
