Iowa Public Universities: Reject Political Interference in Higher Education

We, the Iowa Alumni Alliance, a network of alumni and friends of Iowa’s public universities – the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University – and colleges across the state, call on the Iowa Board of Regents and university presidents to vigorously and publicly defend the core values that have long made Iowa’s universities indispensable engines of innovation, opportunity, and democracy: free inquiry, freedom to learn, and independence. 

The quality of our universities should never be compromised by partisan politics. As alumni and allies, we are deeply disturbed by the Iowa State legislature’s escalating political intrusion into our university systems. As a result of the endorsement or willful ignorance from state legislators and university leaders, out of state groups are reshaping the core foundations of our beloved universities and taking control of curriculum, admissions, hiring, and governance. 

Political interference and chronic underfunding are already limiting the options and opportunities of current generations of students, eroding the once stellar national reputation of Iowa’s universities, and degrading the quality of degrees we are proud to have earned from these institutions. The ideologically-motivated elimination of entire university majors and programs, coupled with extreme legislative mandates dictating or restricting course requirements stand contrary to the values of free inquiry and the legacy of our university system. This includes attempts to force all UI students to enroll in multiple courses within the newly established, and ideologically-driven “Center for Intellectual Freedom.”

It is the job of Regents and university leaders to uphold the mission and values of our universities, listen to the alumni, students, and families they represent, and resist political coercion. As stewards of our universities, Regents are obligated to promote access and equity in higher education, protect academic freedom, and ensure a bright future for current and future generations of Iowans. 

1) Publicly reaffirm your commitment to free expression, academic independence, and the pursuit of knowledge without political interference.

2) Reject and resist any illegitimate political pressure to control curricula and hiring, suppress faculty or student speech, or alter admissions or governance policies.

3) Maintain transparency and accountability with alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the broader public about how the Iowa Board of Regents and university leaders are addressing these threats.

4) Reverse years of political interference in our universities by re-establishing abolished departments and restoring funding for research and academic programs. 

Decades from now, The University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State University should be remembered for standing firm in their mission and values, for all members of their communities, and for the democratic freedoms these institutions were founded to uphold.

Sincerely,