IA HSB537

Private institutions of higher education participating in the Iowa tuition grant program would be prohibited from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices as a condition of eligibility.

DEI is defined broadly to include efforts to influence faculty or student body composition based on race, sex, color, or ethnicity, as well as programs, trainings, or policies designed with reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

DEI offices are defined as any division, office, center, or unit responsible for creating, developing, or promoting DEI-related policies, programming, training, or activities.

Exemptions from the DEI office prohibition include legal compliance offices, academic departments offering courses for degree credit, new student recruitment offices, and registered student organizations.

Participating institutions must adopt a compliance policy with the new chapter 261M requirements to remain eligible for the Iowa tuition grant program.