DEI opposition prompts an Iowa university to cancel Women's Day activities
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Grand View University has canceled its International Women's Day activities as it reviews evolving state and federal mandates that would penalize institutions for continuing their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- Meanwhile, Des Moines Area Community College has suspended its DEI meetings and staff training and has removed associated websites, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The moves highlight how efforts to eliminate DEI from Iowa's state universities are now extending to private and community colleges, even in the face of significant opposition and critics' warnings that abolishing them is "an assault on the civil rights movement."
Catch up quick: DEI backlash has grown following criticism from politicians and conservative activists in recent years who contend the efforts have resulted in reverse discrimination.
- Iowa's three public universities announced last year that they would be eliminating DEI departments and positions just weeks before Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law to restrict them.
- Nationally, the U.S. Department of Education warned academic institutions on Feb. 14 to remove DEI policies within 14 days or risk funding cuts.
State of play: State Republican lawmakers are now considering a bill that would make private colleges with DEI offices ineligible to receive Iowa Tuition Grants, potentially cutting in-state tuition assistance by thousands of dollars per student.
- The University of Iowa stopped recognizing eight student groups on Feb. 17 due to DEI restrictions, including councils for African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals and military veterans, The Daily Iowans reports.
Zoom in: International Women's Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years, recognizing achievements and raising awareness about discrimination.
- Grand View canceled activities linked with the March 8 celebration on Feb. 19 to ensure its events are non-exclusionary, spokesperson Rachelle Mitchell tells Axios.
- DMACC's decisions to suspend DEI activities are considered preliminary until there is more certainty regarding state and federal directives, spokesperson Dan Ryan tells Axios.
The intrigue: Drake University announced plans to expand its DEI programs last year, and school officials continue to oppose the anti-DEI legislation, The Times-Delphic student newspaper reported on Feb. 13.
- The school is monitoring the potential implications of the state and federal efforts, but currently there is no established law to act on, provost Sue Mattison said in a statement to Axios.
Separately, Des Moines University features DEI on its website — but school officials did not respond to Axios' requests for comment about its future.
What's next: The Iowa bill must pass a House committee before a March 7 deadline or it may not advance this year.
- The stated federal deadline for schools to abolish DEI policies is Feb. 28.