The University of Iowa has announced plans to close its Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies department, alongside other significant academic restructuring efforts, in response to evolving perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Under the proposed plan, the university will also eliminate the American Studies department and the current majors in American Studies and Social Justice. These programs, which collectively enroll fewer than 60 students, will be replaced by a new interdisciplinary major in Social and Cultural Analysis. This change aims to consolidate academic resources and streamline curricula. If approved at the Board of Regents meeting in February 2025, the restructuring will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Shift aims at better integration
The reorganization includes the merging of existing departments, such as African American Studies and Native American and Indigenous Studies, into a new School of Social and Cultural Analysis. According to Roland Racevskis, the associate dean for arts and humanities at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), the new structure will simplify administration and enhance academic offerings. By replacing multiple department chairs and directors with a unified leadership team, the university seeks to improve curriculum coordination, provide clearer pathways for students, and foster interdisciplinary research opportunities, the university announced in a public notice earlier in December.
Why the decision for restructuring academic programmes?
This decision comes after Iowa’s state Board of Regents approved ten recommendations to scale back DEI initiatives in public universities. Similar measures are being observed nationally. For instance, the University of Michigan recently ended its DEI requirements for faculty hiring and promotions, while the University of Austin (UATX) shifted to merit-based systems. In states like Florida, funding for DEI programs in public institutions has been restricted or eliminated altogether.
Sara Sanders, dean of the CLAS, expressed optimism about the restructuring. She emphasized that the changes would allow the university to build on its existing strengths while fostering sustainable and innovative academic offerings. The new School of Social and Cultural Analysis, she noted, represents an opportunity to reposition programs for a more robust and flexible future.
