The Iowa Board of Regents approved a plan to review general-education courses at the state’s three public universities for “substantial DEI” or critical race theory content every two years, starting in the 2026-27 academic year. The measure passed 5-3, with Board President Robert Cramer arguing it is intended to bridge gaps between legislative concerns and what faculty present in classrooms. Regents said the process is not designed to cut classes or add new student requirements; however, the board projects more than 1,000 hours of staff work across the universities and the board office. Opponents warned the review could harm institutional competitiveness by raising the perception that course content could be politicized. The policy builds on a prior review process adopted in August and follows legislative efforts to limit how public universities handle DEI and CRT content. Supporters framed the effort as an administrative check rather than a content ban, but faculty and institutions remain exposed to workload and reputational risks.