{"id":137963,"date":"2023-11-28T00:06:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T05:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=137963"},"modified":"2023-11-28T00:54:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T05:54:32","slug":"after-iowa-board-of-regents-abolishes-higher-ed-dei-initiatives-high-paid-deans-on-chopping-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/after-iowa-board-of-regents-abolishes-higher-ed-dei-initiatives-high-paid-deans-on-chopping-block\/","title":{"rendered":"After Iowa Board of Regents abolish higher ed DEI initiatives, high-paid deans on chopping block"},"content":{"rendered":"

University of Iowa\u2019s associate vice president for DEI division makes nearly $375,000 per year\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Well-paid DEI officials at Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Iowa could soon be out of jobs, following a vote<\/a> by the board of trustees.<\/p>\n

The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved<\/a> a proposal to abolish all \u201cdiversity, equity, and inclusion\u201d initiatives<\/a> at public universities that are not required for compliance with state law.<\/p>\n

The proposal followed a legislatively mandated<\/a> study group report that examined<\/a> DEI programs, compensation of DEI officials, and other DEI-related requirements at several of the state\u2019s top public universities.<\/p>\n

University of Iowa\u2019s associate vice president for its DEI division makes nearly $375,000 per year in compensation, according to the report.<\/p>\n

ISU\u2019s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion has a total salary and benefits package of $343,202, according to data in the report. That position should not be confused with the Ames\u2019 university\u2019s \u201cdirector of equal opportunity\u201d whose compensation also eclipses $300,000.<\/p>\n

An Iowa state representative applauded the board\u2019s approval of the report in an email statement to The College Fix<\/em> and said he would be working to make sure the universities were implementing the recommendations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe board’s recommendations are a positive step forward in returning confidence back to Iowa’s institutions of higher education,\u201d state Rep. Taylor Collins told The College Fix<\/em>.<\/p>\n

“I’ll be watching closely to see if any legislation this coming session is needed to ensure the DEI bureaucracies at our regent universities are eliminated,\u201d Collins said. “We will not sit idly by as our own taxpayer dollars are weaponized against us all under the guise of ‘DEI.'”<\/p>\n

The study group\u2019s report<\/a> made ten recommendations to Iowa\u2019s public universities regarding DEI activities and initiatives that the schools should cut funding to or eliminate completely.<\/p>\n

One recommendation states that universities should eliminate or modify any DEI-related staff positions that do not perform duties required for compliance with state laws, according to the report.<\/p>\n

That means the University of Northern Iowa may need to downsize its staff, which includes two DEI assistants to the president, both of whom make more than $160,000 per year. The university also employs an \u201cequity specialist\u201d and a separate \u201cequity investigator.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study group also advised universities not to implement DEI requirements as part of their hiring practices and employee performance standards.<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> UMich botanical garden employes DEI manager<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Study Group questions the necessity of DEI-specific competencies or employment expectations, particularly when there is little direct relationship to the requirements of the position,\u201d the report read. \u201cThe Study Group proposes a recommendation assuring performance is not evaluated based on an individual\u2019s participation in DEI initiatives.”<\/p>\n

Other recommendations the report made include prohibiting universities from requiring students or employees to submit DEI statements and use pronouns.<\/p>\n

A media representative for the Board of Regents told The College Fix<\/em> that the board\u2019s vote to approve the report means the state\u2019s public universities must adhere to the recommendations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe universities will comply with the recommendations and will report back to the Board on their progress,\u201d Josh Lehman told The Fix<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Lehman said universities will update the board on their progress with enacting the recommendations at its April 2024 meeting.<\/p>\n

The College Fix<\/em> reached out to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, the two largest colleges in the state, to ask what their plans were to implement and comply with these recommendations.<\/p>\n

Jeneane Beck, assistant vice president of external relations at the University of Iowa, referred The Fix<\/em> to a university news release<\/a> stating that the school intends to implement the report\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n

However, Beck did not answer any questions on specific DEI activities the school planned on cutting back or eliminating.<\/p>\n

Iowa State University did not respond to multiple requests for comment sent in the past two weeks.<\/p>\n

\n

Congratulations to Iowans for banning the DEI offices in their state and for following the example of our allies in Florida, and Texas. https:\/\/t.co\/pWTlhUp2jO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Yenor (@scottyenor) November 20, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n