HOUSE FILE 285

BY  WATTS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to intellectual diversity in community colleges and institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents and providing a reporting requirement.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  261G.1  Short title —— definition.
   1.  This chapter may be cited as the “Intellectual Diversity in Higher Education Act”.
   2.  For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,“intellectual diversity” means an open learning environment that exposes students to a variety of perspectives.
   Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  261G.2  Reporting requirements.
   1.  Each community college established under chapter 260C and each institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents shall, on or before January 1, 2012, and on or before January 1 of each succeeding fiscal year, do the following:
   a.  Submit a report to the Iowa association of community college trustees or the state board of regents, as appropriate, detailing the steps that the community college or institution has taken and is taking to ensure intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas among both the student body and the faculty members.
   b.  Post the report described in paragraph“a” on the community college’s or institution’s internet website.
   c.  Create a mechanism to receive complaints and suggestions from students, faculty, and other interested parties regarding intellectual diversity, or lack thereof, at the community college or institution.
   2.  In order to fulfill the reporting requirement in subsection 1, on or before December 30 annually, as appropriate, beginning December 30, 2011, each community college and each institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents shall at a minimum do the following:
   a.  Conduct a study to assess the current state of intellectual diversity on its campus.
   b.  Incorporate intellectual diversity into institutional statements, grievance procedures, and activities that promote diversity.
   c.  Include intellectual diversity concerns in the community college’s or institution’s guidelines on teaching and program development.
   d.  Include intellectual diversity issues in student discourse evaluations.
   e.  Develop clear policies on hiring, tenure, and promotion that protect individuals against discrimination based on political viewpoint and that track any reported political viewpoint discrimination grievances.
   f.  Direct the chief diversity officer for the community college or institution, or other parties responsible for diversity efforts at the community college or institution, to ensure that the community college or institution take all appropriate measures to promote intellectual diversity, including but not limited to the provisions specified in this subsection. The chief diversity officer or other parties responsible for diversity efforts at the community college or institution shall also report regularly on intellectual diversity to the Iowa association of community college trustees or the state board of regents, as appropriate.
   3.  On or before January 31 annually, beginning January 31, 2012, the Iowa association of community college trustees for the community colleges, and the state board of regents for the institutions of higher education it controls, shall collect and summarize the reports provided in accordance with subsection 1, and submit the summary in a report to the general assembly and the governor. The summary report shall provide internet website links to the complete reports provided by the institutions in accordance with subsection 1, along with the key findings derived from those reports. The Iowa association of community college trustees and state board of regents shall each maintain a copy of the summary report and copies of the reports provided pursuant to subsection 1 on its internet website.
   4.  The standing senate and house of representatives education committees of the general assembly shall hear testimony from representatives of the community colleges and the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents; their students, faculty members, and administrators; and expert witnesses concerning the reports submitted pursuant to this section and any matters of interest to the committees concerning intellectual diversity.
EXPLANATION
   This bill establishes the “Intellectual Diversity in Higher Education Act”, requires each community college and regents university to provide an annual report to the Iowa association of community college trustees and the state board of regents, as appropriate, describing the steps it is taking to ensure intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas. The association and the state board are directed to submit a summary of the reports to the general assembly and the governor annually and to place the summary report and the institution reports on their internet websites.
   The bill defines “intellectual diversity” as an open learning environment that exposes students to a variety of perspectives.
   Each community college and regents university must submit its report on or before January 1 annually beginning January 1, 2012, post the reports on their websites, and create a mechanism to collect complaints and suggestions related to intellectual diversity. In order to fulfill the reporting requirement, on or before December 30 annually, beginning December 30, 2011, each community college and regents university must, at a minimum, conduct a study to assess the current state of intellectual diversity on its campus; incorporate intellectual diversity into institutional statements, grievance procedures, and activities that promote diversity; include intellectual diversity concerns in the institution’s guidelines on teaching and program development; and include intellectual diversity issues in student discourse evaluations; develop clear policies on hiring, tenure, and promotion that protect individuals against discrimination based on political viewpoint and that track discrimination grievances.
   The summary reports must be submitted to the general assembly and the governor on or before January 31, 2012, and annually thereafter. The summary report must include the key findings derived from the institutions’ reports.
   Finally, the bill provides that the standing senate and house of representatives education committees shall hear testimony from community college and regents university representatives, students, faculty members, administrators, and expert witnesses concerning the reports submitted and any matters of interest to the committees concerning intellectual diversity.