Iowa bill pressures private colleges to ban diversity offices

A bill in the Iowa Legislature would force private colleges to choose between their work to diversify their staff and students and maintain eligibility for state tuition grants. 

Iowa Republicans want to get rid of offices that support diversity across the state. After forcing the public universities to comply with their anti-DEI witch hunt, private colleges are now in their crosshairs.

An Iowa House subcommittee advanced a bill on Wednesday that would prevent students supported by state tuition grants from attending private colleges and universities that maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. Schools found in violation could lose their eligibility to receive funding from Iowa’s tuition grant program.

“DEI is DOA in Iowa,” said Republican state Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis, who signed off on the bill along with Rep. Heather Hora, a Republican from Washington. 

Top Iowa private colleges like Drake University and Grinnell College have programs devoted to supporting the diversity of their institutions. Even Sioux City’s Morningside College had a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee—though the institution recently scrubbed mention of it from its website. According to Drake’s website, the office supports students with disabilities and tries to make the campus more welcoming for students from diverse backgrounds. These services range from career development to student-led organizations. 

If the bill becomes law, students looking to attend these colleges for any number of reasons could be locked out of the maximum $8,500 awards the state devotes to Iowa students seeking higher education.

Cierra Jackson, a first-year law student at Drake Law School, opposes the bill, saying diversity programming helped her thrive in college.

“I did not encounter DEI until I went to a higher institution,” Jackson said. “I did not believe in myself until I went to a higher institution that had a program there capable of supporting me and giving me the opportunities I need to succeed.”

Adam Bessman, a transgender first-year undergraduate student also attending Drake, said the school’s programs were crucial for him. 

“I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the support that DEI programs give me and other minority students,” Bessman said.  “… Private institutions are the only options left to students like me.”

The bill includes several carve-outs, explicitly protecting academic courses, research work, student organizations, guest speakers, and mental health services. It also includes exceptions for DEI activities required by federal or state law or accreditation standards.

Patty Alexander, 62, of Indianola came to the committee meeting because she opposes diversity programming more generally. When asked about whether she opposed the students who spoke in support of the services at private colleges, Alexander said, “I’m not against them getting help, you know. But isn’t there another way? I thought there was another way to help.”

Under the enforcement provisions, any person could report potential violations to the Iowa Attorney General’s office. Schools would then have 30 days to either correct the violation or provide documentation showing they weren’t in violation. 

The bill is now eligible for consideration at the committee level.