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The proposed changes include the termination of a social justice program and the closure of a department dedicated to gender and sexuality studies. These would be replaced by a newly established School of Social and Cultural Analysis.
According to The Blaze, the university issued a press release on December 17, outlining the proposed School of Social and Cultural Analysis. The institution believes that the new school would "promote interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance faculty support, and increase student opportunities," while also addressing some staffing and course offering inefficiencies.
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The press release detailed that "the school would combine several departments and programs in the areas of African American Studies; American Studies; Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; Jewish Studies; Latina/o/x Studies; and Native American and Indigenous Studies." To facilitate the creation of the new school, the university plans to dissolve the Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies Department, the American Studies Department, an American Studies major, and a major in social justice. These departments and majors currently cater to fewer than 60 students combined.
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Roland Racevskis, associate dean for the arts and humanities at the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, explained the rationale behind the proposed changes. "Right now, these programs are administered by multiple department chairs and multiple directors," he said. "Under this proposed plan, the school would have a single leadership team dedicated to overseeing the operations of the programs. This new structure would provide better coordination of curriculum across these related programs, easier pathways for degree completion, and support for interdisciplinary research opportunities."
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Sara Sanders, dean of the UI CLAS, expressed her enthusiasm for the proposed changes, stating, "The creation of a School of Social and Cultural Analysis would allow us to build on our considerable legacy in areas that are essential to our mission, while creating more sustainable structures and room for innovative new curricula. By making the most of our resources and expertise, we can enhance the student experience, better support our faculty, and encourage collaborative research across fields."
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However, these changes are not yet set in stone. The Iowa Board of Regents must first approve the proposal, with a meeting to consider it scheduled for February. The board has already approved 10 recommendations for eliminating or limiting DEI programs at Iowa schools of higher education, as reported by Fox News.
Should the proposal receive approval, the changes will be implemented in July 2025, coinciding with the enforcement of a new state law that curtails DEI efforts. Iowa Code Chapter 261J, among other provisions, establishes "restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents."
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State Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis), the soon-to-be chair of a committee on higher education, has recently prioritized ending or restricting DEI. "We have a tremendous amount of work to do in restoring Iowans’ confidence in our institutions, controlling costs, and returning the focus of our higher education system away from ideological agendas and back to the pursuit of academic excellence," Collins said in a statement.
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This proposed shift in DEI policy at the University of Iowa represents a significant departure from the institution's stance just four years ago. In 2020, the university pledged to diversify and "internationalize" the campus by "attracting students and faculty from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences" and to retain minority professors. The potential changes reflect a broader trend towards a more conservative approach to higher education, emphasizing academic excellence over ideological agendas.