The Iowa Board of Regents are continuing to ensure that university programs related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - or DEI - are being dissolved at the three three public universities.
The Regents are trying to get its campuses in compliance with an upcoming state law which will prohibit those offices at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa.
More than $2 million has been reallocated to other departments across those schools so far, which has resulted in the elimination of positions and entire offices, as well as student protests.
Regent David Barker at last week’s meeting said university administrations have a duty to remain impartial, which is why the law is in place.
“The law is designed to keep university administration out of politics. Professors can conduct research and take controversial ideas wherever they go, but the university itself should remain neutral when it comes to politics and controversial issues,” Barker said.
The law goes into effect in July of next year, but the Regents anticipate changes to be implemented many months before that.
Students have pushed back, particularly at Iowa State. Protests have been held as the school’s LGBTQ center is undergoing massive change.
At the meeting, Regent Nancy Dunkel said the board should consider bringing in those voices to help guide decisions, as there is not currently a student on the Iowa Board of Regents.
*The University of Northern Iowa is implementing a new curriculum for its teaching students this fall.
The curriculum looks to better prepare students to teach in a changing classroom.
It makes paths for transfer and foreign language educators clearer, and also might soon create specific courses to deal with the ethical and technological effects of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom.
Benjamin Forsyth is an official of Undergraduate Studies and Teacher Education at UNI. He said one of the biggest changes will be improving teaching programs for non-native English speakers.
“We wanted to make sure we could add in more instruction for ELL students. Our previous course model made it harder for us to add extra instruction,” Forsyth said.
More than 2,500 undergrad and graduate students, or roughly one-fourth of the full college enrollment, are studying education at UNI.
*Additionally, services throughout Siouxland on Monday commemorated Veterans Day, the federal holiday in place since 1938 where people remember those who have served in military branches.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes the holiday as a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Most government related entities were closed for the holiday, and lots of restaurants had free or reduced-price meals or offers to veterans. There were morning ceremonies held Monday at the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, and many other places.
*In other news, more than 7,000 people in Sioux City have properties with service lines containing lead that will need to be removed within the next 13 years.
City of Sioux City officials by late November will contact those people who are believed to have a service line where lead may be present.
As part of Lead and Copper Rule revisions, the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated a series of requirements that all 60,000 public water systems in the U.S. must meet by October 2037.
Anyone who receives a letter should contact the Sioux City Water Treatment Plant at 712-279-6150. City officials are working out a schedule for timing service line replacements and who will pay for them.
*There is a state title team in Sioux City, as the Bishop Heelan High School volleyball team won the Class 4A championship on Saturday in Coralville.
The title was the fourth championship in Heelan volleyball history.
*Additionally, the price for unleaded self-serve gas in Iowa has dropped for the third consecutive week.
The average price dropped five cents in the first week of November, and has declined by a combined 16 cents over the last three weeks, to sit at $2.85.
According to AAA, the statewide average price of $2.85 is 24 cents less than a year ago at this time, and the current national average is $3.11.
Many Sioux City and surrounding town stations are selling unleaded this week in the range from $2.57 to $2.74, or well less than the state average.
Of the last 12 weeks dating back to August, gas prices have only gone up over two weeks.
