Des Moines, Iowa — Key Republican lawmakers are questioning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs at Iowa’s three state universities.
Republican Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis is a member of the House panel that oversees the budgets for the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa. Collins says the top diversity and social justice officers at the three schools are paid six-figure salaries and he suggests that’s excessive.
Collins says he has a hard time squaring a request for more state spending when the state universities are spending about 750 thousand dollars a year to pay the four diversity officers on the campuses in Ames, Iowa City, and Cedar Falls.
Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull, chairman of the House Education Committee, says he wants to know why diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have become such a phenomenon on college campuses.
University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook says UNI has been involved in working on diversity issues in and around the Cedar Falls campus for 50 years and he says large Iowa employers like John Deere are asking universities to help students from diverse backgrounds complete college.
University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says employers are asking for graduates who can lead in a diverse world.
Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen says diversity and equity are part of ISU’s heritage.
Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he plans to ban Florida’s state universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and GOP lawmakers in other states are discussing similar moves.
