DES MOINES, Iowa — The University of Iowa is under investigation for allegedly violating a law signed by Governor Kim Reynolds that bans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and programming on campus.

The investigation was initiated by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird following the release of an undercover video by Fox News. The video features a university employee stating that DEI programming continues under the guise of “civic engagement” and that she intends to keep using DEI principles in her classroom.

Governor Reynolds expressed her disapproval, stating she is “appalled by the remarks made in this video by a University of Iowa employee who blatantly admits to defying DEI restrictions.”

Attorney General Bird commented on the situation, saying, “Because the video contains comments by a university employee indicating the university, in effect, maintains a DEI office and/or has employees who perform duties of a DEI office, there certainly appears to be, at a minimum, a potential violation of Iowa Code.”

Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates has pledged cooperation with the investigation, emphasizing that “following the law is not optional, nor is working around the law. Any attempt to skirt the law needs to be dealt with swiftly.” Bates assured that the board fully supports the attorney general’s review and will take necessary actions to address the situation.

The Board of Regents is planning a special meeting next month to discuss university policy as determined by state law, which may address the ongoing investigation and potential violations.

The investigation into the University of Iowa’s compliance with state law regarding DEI programming is ongoing, with significant attention from state officials and the Board of Regents. The outcome of the investigation and subsequent actions could have implications for university policies and practices moving forward.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WHO 13 News. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WHO 13 News staff before being published.