IA HF437

Establishes the Center for Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic center at the University of Iowa under the Board of Regents, focused on teaching and research about historical ideas, traditions, and texts that shaped the American constitutional order

Requires the center to provide scholarship on the intellectual foundations of free societies, American constitutional principles, and foundations of responsible leadership and informed citizenship, while offering university-wide programming on free speech and civil discourse

Mandates the center offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government that satisfies general education requirements, coordinated with Iowa State University's Center for Cyclone Civics and UNI's Center for Civic Education

Board of Regents must appoint a minimum nine-member advisory council by December 31, 2025, which conducts a nationwide search for a director who reports directly to the board and has sole authority over center hiring and operations

University must employ tenure-eligible faculty, incrementally increasing to five based on demand, with faculty not affiliated with the center having no authority over center faculty appointments; funding comes from appropriations, donations through UI Center for Advancement, and proportional contributions from regents institutions