The board’s new policies permit faculty to teach controversial topics when they are relevant to a course’s content in the interest of free and open discussion. But the revisions, which build on existing policies, say instruction shouldn’t be one-sided.
“Instruction should be presented in a manner that fosters critical thinking and avoids indoctrination of one perspective,” one of the revisions states.
They also direct each of the state’s public universities to implement procedures that ensure coursework meets the new requirements and allow the board to audit those policies every two years.
“Students’ grades must reflect their mastery of course content and skills, not their agreement or disagreement with particular viewpoints expressed during instruction or in their work,” another revision reads.
The proposed changes, which the board approved 7-1, follow broadly disputed claims among leading conservative voices that students within higher education institutions across the country are being indoctrinated by their left-wing professors.
Recently, videos were posted to Fox News, Townhall and Accuracy in Media — all conservative-leaning news sites — showing faculty at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University describing ways they are circumventing the state’s guidelines on programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I think it’s clear that at least until very recently, a culture existed to some extent that was in conflict with board directives, state and federal policy, and that that culture was intent on subverting these policies,” said Regent David Barker, who voted for the revisions.