Iowa Lawmakers Seek to Remove DEI From Required Courses
Legislative leaders have requested that the Iowa Board of Regents prohibit DEI content in core degree curriculum.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Iowa legislative leaders have formally requested that the Board of Regents eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from required degree and core curriculum courses. Lawmakers argue that such requirements treat identity-based outcomes as settled orthodoxy within the state university system.
Why it matters
The request aims to ensure academic alignment with previous state laws that banned the use of taxpayer funds for DEI initiatives that prioritize group identity over individual merit. Proponents suggest this oversight is necessary to maintain consistency across state government and educational institutions.
Legislative committee chairs Lynn Evans and Taylor Collins initiated the request following the release of videos by Accuracy in Media alleging the presence of DEI content in university course offerings.
The players
Lynn Evans
Lynn Evans serves as an Iowa legislative committee chair who is participating in the push to restrict DEI content in state universities.
Taylor Collins
Taylor Collins is an Iowa legislative committee chair involved in the effort to oversee university curriculum standards regarding DEI.
Iowa Board of Regents
The Iowa Board of Regents is the governing body responsible for the management and oversight of Iowa's public universities.
Accuracy in Media
Accuracy in Media is a media watchdog organization that produced the videos cited by lawmakers to support their request for curriculum changes.
The details
Lawmakers contend that mandating DEI coursework undermines efforts to remove similar programs from state government entities. The request follows earlier legislative actions that restricted state funding for DEI programs centered on group identity.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: Legislative leaders sent a letter to the Board of Regents.
Culture Shift
This request extends the Iowa legislative ban on taxpayer-funded DEI initiatives into the specific realm of core academic course requirements. It represents a broader effort by state lawmakers to ensure university academic standards align with legislative mandates regarding individual merit.
Students attending public universities in Iowa may see changes to their mandatory course loads if the Board of Regents accepts the legislative request. Faculty members and department heads could face new curriculum review processes as the state evaluates which courses contain DEI content.
The takeaway
This development underscores a continuing legislative focus on defining the boundaries of diversity initiatives in public education. Readers should monitor future Board of Regents meetings for potential changes to graduation requirements or university course catalogs.
Further reading
For more context on academic policy, visit Secondary Education in Iowa.
Live Poll
Should public universities be prohibited from requiring students to take courses focused on DEI frameworks?
