State universities remove gender options from admissions forms

Students will no longer be able to list their sex as anything other than “male” or “female” on state university admission forms in Iowa, according to documents submitted to the Board of Regents, state of Iowa.

In response to federal and state actions, Iowa’s public universities are eliminating questions about gender identity on their admissions forms and removing references to diversity, equity and inclusion from their strategic plans.

Ahead of the Board of Regents, state of Iowa Feb. 27 meeting, the board released documents detailing revisions to the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University strategic plans, striking out language referring to diversity, equity and inclusion. The board will discuss the amended plans, as well as a change to admission application questions asking students to identify their gender.

According to board documents, Sen. Lynn Evans and Rep. Taylor Collins sent a letter to the board Feb. 10 citing recent executive actions taken by President Donald Trump and saying public university practices are going against Trump’s assertion that there are only two genders.

The only example provided in the letter was of the UI’s admissions application listing seven genders for prospective students to choose from.

The lawmakers in the letter requested the board adopt a policy aligning with Trump’s “Restoring Sanity Agenda,” which they said put into policy that the only genders are male and female, and ensure the universities under its purview list only these genders on applications for admission.

“If we have recognized anything since the last election, Americans and Iowans are ready for a return to sanity, and that begins with recognizing this basic biological reality,” the letter stated.

State universities had begun discussions on this subject before the board received the letter, according to the document, and by Feb. 13, all three had changed their sex identifier question to include only “female,” “male” and “prefer not to answer,” and removed any questions relating to gender.

Universities revise strategic plans

Like the board of regents did in January, state universities will present updated strategic plans at the meeting next week, having struck language pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion.

A new section of the UI 2022-2027 strategic plan stated the university has already exceeded goals for retention and graduation rates, among other things, by the midpoint of the plan’s timeline.

According to the document, the university has achieved a 90.4% first-year retention rate and a more than 63% rate of four-year undergraduate completion, with both goals being updated to reach a 91% first-year retention rate and 65% four-year graduation rate by 2027.

The revised plan includes new goals in these areas and “reflects the ongoing challenges, opportunities, and goals for our university to strive for in the coming years.”

“Together, we will continue to advance excellence in our core missions, grow in areas of strategic importance, and further distinguish our university as a destination of first choice for talented students, faculty, and staff,” the plan stated.

In its statement of vision, the UI plan replaced language stating it would be a first-choice university for “a diverse and talented body of students” with students, faculty, and staff “from wide ranging backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.”

The UI still lists inclusion under its core values in the plan, but language stating “we affirm and celebrate all backgrounds and identities” has been replaced with “we welcome and respect all members of our community.”

The plan also said the university is “committed to ensuring access, respecting differences, and fostering a supportive environment where all individuals are valued, empowered, and encouraged to contribute to our shared success,” eliminating language saying the university gets better by bringing in and keeping “a diverse, talented population of students, faculty and staff” and fostering an environment where everyone feels respected and valued.

Instances of DEI language have also been removed from the university’s priorities relating to creating a welcoming environment, teaching and mentoring, improving access to “high-impact educational opportunities,” interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering community and elevating the institution’s values, according to the document.

ISU’s 2022-2031 strategic plan includes “statements of aspiration,” one of which would be changed under the new plan from “To be the university that cultivates a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where students, faculty and staff flourish” to “To be the university that cultivates a welcoming and respectful environment where all students, faculty and staff flourish.”

The university removed instances of DEI language from one of the plan’s driving pillars, “education experience,” and a “success factor” previously written out as “To be the university that cultivates a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where all students, faculty and staff flourish.” In this section, “diverse, equitable and inclusive” has been replaced with “welcoming and respectful.”

DEI language has also been struck from sections on recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff, as well as language stating the university would track demographic gaps and retention rates of “underrepresented students.” New language in the retention section stated “the university will improve the retention of all students through a holistic approach that identifies and addresses students’ individual needs to help them persist to graduation.”

If approved, the updated UNI 2023-2028 strategic plan would remove goals for retention and graduation rates of “traditionally marginalized” student groups, including students of color, military veteran students and those registered with Student Accessibility Services. New goals include reaching an 85% overall retention rate, 50% four-year graduation rate and 70% six-year graduation rate.

Under its listed values, the university has removed “equity” and changed the definition of “access” in the plan from “An inclusive educational environment that is supportive, equitable, and affordable” to “A welcoming, supportive and affordable educational environment for all.”

Other instances of language relating to DEI have been removed, including in the plan’s vision statement and value of community description. The value of “sustainability” has had “socially just” removed from its explanation as well.

One of the goals listed in the strategic plan, previously titled “Create Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Opportunities” has been changed to “Access for All,” with strategies that called for increasing diversity and ensuring an inclusive environment removed or changed to eliminate words.

UNI’s mission in its strategic plan, which remained unchanged, stated “The University of Northern Iowa creates, empowers, and innovates to enrich Iowa and beyond.”