A bill for an act providing for a review of undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions and authorizing elimination of certain required courses and course requirements.(Formerly SF 2063.)
Summary
Senate File 2303 requires the Iowa Board of Regents to review undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at the regents’ institutions by the semester beginning in fall 2028. As part of that review, the board must direct institutions to identify any required courses or course requirements that include diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content.
The bill gives the Board of Regents discretion to direct an institution to eliminate any such course or course requirement identified in the review. It also requires the board to adopt all policies needed to implement the act by December 31, 2026. In effect, the bill creates a statewide process for examining and potentially removing certain general education requirements at public regents universities and colleges.
Impact
The bill would affect the governance of Iowa’s public higher education system by adding a statutory mandate for the Board of Regents to review and potentially revise general education and core curriculum requirements. It does not directly rewrite specific course catalogs in statute, but it authorizes the board to require institutions to eliminate courses or requirements that include DEI- or CRT-related content, which could alter degree pathways, general education offerings, and institutional academic policy at regents universities.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill moved through Senate Education without recorded opposition, passing that report 14-0. That indicates at least committee-level support or consensus on advancing the measure. No committee transcript is available, so broader debate is not documented in the provided materials, but the bill’s subject matter suggests it is aligned with efforts to scrutinize or limit DEI-related content in public higher education.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory-related content in required courses and core curricula. Supporters are likely to view the review as a way to ensure general education requirements remain neutral or academically focused, while opponents may see it as political interference in university curriculum and an attempt to suppress or remove certain perspectives from required coursework. The bill’s grant of discretion to the Board of Regents to eliminate identified requirements is also notable because it centralizes authority over curriculum changes at the state board level rather than leaving decisions solely to campuses.
Similar To
A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See SF 2303.)
Related
A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See HF 2487.)
Similar To
A bill for an act concerning restrictions on certain activities relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory by state entities and public institutions of higher education.(Formerly HSB 542.)
A bill for an act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2033.)
A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See SF 2303.)
A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See HF 2487.)
A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 63.)
A bill for an act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 543.)
A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.
A bill for an act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions.(See SF 2232.)
A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.(See HF 401.)
A bill for an act relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 2361.)