On May 9, Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a code that prohibits regent universities from “establishing, maintaining or funding a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or hiring an individual to perform the duties of a diversity, equity and inclusion office, except as otherwise provided by law or accreditation standards,” as written in Chapter 261J.
Since then, regent universities, including the University of Northern Iowa, have continued to work to rearrange university programs to comply with Chapter 261J. UNI eliminated the Chief Diversity Officer position along with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice. UNI’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Services was eliminated under Chapter 261J, and the Military and Veteran Student Services office, which fell under the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice, was maintained and reorganized into the Division of Student Life.
The Office of Compliance and Equity Management (OCEM) was renamed the Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC). According to the Board of Regents report, “OCRC is responsible for responding to reports of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct, providing preventative and remedial training, and administering the university’s affirmative action plan. These functions are necessary for compliance with state and federal civil rights laws.”
The Center for Multicultural Education (CME) was determined to not meet the definition of a DEI office under state law.
Student Accessibility Services, UNI Center of Urban Education and Student Wellness Services were also found to be exempt from Chapter 261J, and are maintained within the university structure.
The positions of LGBTQ+ Student Services Coordinator, Multicultural Education Coordinator, and Retention and Mentoring Coordinator under the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice were eliminated. UNI also adjusted many academic advisor positions to be in compliance with Chapter 261J. The two Academic Advisor/Diversity and Inclusion positions under the Wilson College of Business have been adjusted and renamed to Academic Advisor.
Three positions within the Office of Academic Affairs have also been adjusted for compliance with Chapter 261J. The positions of Assistant Director Diversity Recruitment, Transfer Admissions Counselor/Multicultural and Admissions Counselor/Multicultural have been renamed to Assistant Director of Outreach and Access, Transfer Admissions Counselor and Admissions Counselor.
At this month’s Board of Regents meeting, each of the regent universities provided updates on their work to be in compliance with Chapter 261J, and were reviewed by the Board of Regents to ensure compliance. The Board of Regents included state civil rights and expression laws in their evaluation to ensure compliance with those laws as well. The Board of Regents notes that the restructuring and elimination of DEI practices to be in compliance with Board of Regents directives and Chapter 261J is “ongoing.”
Currently, after the changes UNI has made to the Division of Student Life and President’s Office, UNI is within compliance of Board of Regents directives and Chapter 261J. University President Mark Nook told the Northern Iowan in Sept., “We have a moral obligation to be able to support (students) and help them get the education they need.
We won’t ever back away from that. It’s taken a sort of adjustment, and that’s to be expected. We’ve had to shuffle some things to be in line with what’s required of us from the Board of Regents and the legislature, but we’re making sure that at the end of the day, we’re still serving the needs of our students and faculty. That’s something that could never change.”
