Lang
2/20/25
Plans for a new University of Iowa School of Social and Cultural Analysis have been scrapped after being rejected by the Board of Regents amidst criticism from members of the legislature.
The UI College of Liberal Arts had considered dropping its American Studies and Social Justice majors, which would be replaced by the new school including a major with the same name. According to a message issued by school officials last week and obtained by The Cedar Rapids Gazette, the new school would have combined multiple departments and programs, including those dealing with African American, Latino, Jewish and Native American Studies.
After the new school was proposed in December, Republican legislators Taylor Collins of Mediapolis and Lynn Evans of Aurelia urged the regents to reject the proposal, writing, “Iowans expect our institutions of higher education to be focused on providing for the workforce needs of the state, not programs that are focused on peddling ideological agendas.”
A letter sent to UI staff on Tuesday indicates the American Studies and Social Justice majors will now remain in-place for the time being.
The changes come amidst new state laws prohibiting spending state money on DEI initiatives unless they are necessary for the schools to comply with federal standards and/or keep their accreditation.