Background

Over the past year, changes in state law as well as directives from the Iowa Board of Regents have changed the University of Iowa’s organizational structure and campus activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

In November 2023, the Iowa Board of Regents (BOR) issued DEI directives for the state’s public universities, which limited DEI functions to those that are necessary for compliance with state or federal laws or to meet requirements for accreditation.

In May 2024, the state of Iowa adopted into law Senate File 2435, an education funding bill. This legislation also included provisions defining “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and outlining allowable DEI practices at the state’s public universities. The new law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Work has been taking place centrally and at unit levels across the university, including the College of Public Health, to comply with the BOR directives and the new state law. College of Public Health Dean Edith Parker recently answered some questions about what the college is doing to ensure compliance while continuing to provide a welcoming and respectful environment for all students, faculty, and staff at the University of Iowa.

Briefly, under SF2435 what DEI activities are prohibited, what is permitted, and what is not impacted?

The law prohibits:

• Establishing or maintaining a DEI office. A DEI office is any division, office, center, or other unit responsible for programs, training, activities, etc., related to DEI.
• Hiring or assigning an employee to perform the duties of a DEI office.
• Expending any monies to support or staff a DEI office.

The law permits:

• DEI offices and funding necessary by state or federal law.
• DEI offices and funding necessary for accreditation standards.

The law does not impact:

• Academic course content.
• Research or creative works by students, faculty, or staff, and the dissemination of this work.
• Activities of registered student organizations.
• Federal law.

Can you describe what the College of Public Health is doing to align its diversity efforts with the new state law and the Board of Regents DEI directives?

A lot of work has been underway. First, though, I think it’s important to acknowledge and reaffirm our college’s commitment to our Core Values: excellence, learning, community, diversity, integrity, respect, responsibility, and social justice. These not only are the values of our college, they also reflect the values of the discipline of public health. They are foundational to the work we do in this field to protect and promote the health and well-being of everyone – entire populations. The work of public health is, by definition, inclusive of all people.  

Our first step to assure that we’re in compliance with the BOR directives and the new state law has been to understand exactly what has been adopted and what is required. I encourage everyone to take time to read SF2435 and read the Iowa Board of Regents DEI directives. It’s a good practice for everyone in our role as citizens, and especially those who work in the field of public health.

Over the past weeks and months, we have been working closely with campus leadership, including the restructured UI Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity, to ensure that all our diversity work, including our various programs, activities, committees, and trainings, aligns with our accreditation criteria and with the requirements of state and federal law. This work is ongoing.

Specifically, we’re focused on:

• Job description updates. The university has outlined a procedure in which all job descriptions that contain diversity, equity, and inclusion responsibilities are reviewed and potentially altered to meet the expectations set forth by the law. The College of Public Health has completed the first step of that process and is waiting for feedback from the university.
• Review of services provided. There are three separate, but related, reviews that the Division of AOD has asked us to complete focusing on DEI-related trainings, programs, and groups (excluding those related to courses, research, and/or registered student organizations). This work will identify and evaluate services in these three areas and determine how each aligns with specific accreditation criteria or ensures compliance with federal/state law. Among other items, our work includes a review of the College of Public Health DEI Committee and related activities. 
• Website review. We’re working through all DEI-related statements on the College of Public Health website. We’re also putting in place tools and practices to periodically scan the site to assure continued compliance with SF2435.

The College of Public Health is accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH). What does CEPH accreditation require in the area of diversity?

CEPH defines diversity very broadly. Here’s the definition from the CEPH accreditation criteria …

Aspects of diversity include ability/disability, age, citizenship or national origin, community affiliation, country of birth, culture, ethnicity, first-generation students, gender, gender identity and expression, health status, historical under-representation, language, political ideology, privilege, race, refugee status, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, shared ancestry or ethnographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, tribal sovereign status, and veteran status. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Overall, the expectation is that a school or program of public health provides a learning environment that prepares students with broad competencies regarding diversity and cultural humility, recognizing that our graduates move into roles anywhere in the world and they work with diverse populations.  

Cultural humility is an important principle in public health. In the CEPH requirements, cultural humility “refers to bridging the cultural gap between public health professionals and communities to promote culturally sensitive and population-centric strategies. It involves public health professionals being aware of their own cultural biases, acquiring knowledge about different cultures, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity to diverse cultural perspectives. By doing so, public health professionals can build trust, establish effective communication, and engage communities in a manner that is respectful of cultural beliefs and values.”

Diversity, specifically, is addressed in a number of areas within the CEPH accreditation requirements. In addition to a specific criterion for “Diversity and Cultural Humility,” other criteria are integrated throughout the accreditation requirements.

For example, in the criteria on Faculty, a school must demonstrate support for “professional development and advancement in instructional effectiveness, including support for working with diverse students and communities.”  In the area of Career Advising, the criteria state that “Career advising must be sensitive to the needs of a diverse student body.” Under another criterion, we need to ask our alumni to share their perceptions of their preparation for the workforce, including “their preparation to work in diverse environments and/or with diverse populations.”  

As we navigate this evolving landscape, what would you say to faculty, staff, and students who may feel uncertain about the future of diversity and inclusion efforts within the college?

People in the College of Public health, like people throughout the field of public health, are passionate about protecting health and well-being and advocating for policies and practices that will lead to better health outcomes for all people. That commitment will always inform and infuse our work, whether it’s focused on maternal and child health, substance use disorders, cancer prevention, mental health, rural health disparities, workplace safety, or any of the other areas where our faculty, students, and staff are active.

I think part of the evolving landscape we’re in today is recognizing a broader definition of diversity. This is something the university has been intentional about. Diversity includes individuals who are the first in their families to attend college, those from rural communities, those who have served in the military, those who have physical or cognitive disabilities, those at every point along the socio-economic spectrum and the philosophical spectrum.

The College of Public Health will continue to be a place that’s respectful and welcoming of all people. We will follow Iowa law, and we will also maintain compliance with our accreditation criteria, with the terms of our research funding, and with requirements under federal law. We can and will do all of these things together.