- UI Athletics published its diversity, equity, and inclusion five-year action plan this week.
- The plan outlines ways it will foster “the advancement and respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion for all student-athletes, coaches, and staff.”
- Under terms of a $4.2 million lawsuit settlement, UI will hire a Texas professor to help implement the plan.
- The settlement's DEI stipulation comes as state lawmakers propose a bill to curb DEI-related spending and training at Iowa’s public universities.
- A number of state officials have urged UI to make changes in its athletics leadership, particularly with Athletic Director Gary Barta.
- Barta's current contract runs through June 2024.
IOWA CITY — University of Iowa Athletics’ 2023 “diversity, equity, and inclusion five-year action plan” — which the department will get help operationalizing under terms of a new discrimination lawsuit settlement — lists 20-plus “actionable activities,” like designing “spotlight recognition awards for DE&I teams and departments who exemplify our values.”
“Make this a competition on which teams create the greatest cultural change,” the action plan urges.
Another action step in the plan would “create teachable scenarios that focus on how to build respectful relationships that promote equitable, inclusive environments that addresses systemic issues proactively with accountability that attach real consequences for violations.”
Advertisement
The plan — which UI Athletics finalized in January and posted online this week — identifies fives core strategies aimed at fulfilling its commitment to foster “the advancement and respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion for all student-athletes, coaches, and staff.”
Those strategies are education; evaluation and assessment; infrastructure and sustainability; collaboration; and infusion of leadership.
Actionable activities under its leadership umbrella include:
- Creating educational programs “that uncover the insecurities we all have and provide solutions that impact our first impulse reactions”;
- Honoring and recognizing national events “that impact the lives of underrepresented students and staff and create conversation spaces for our students and staff”;
- Establishing consistent DEI messaging and communication;
- Launching a “diversity conversation series highlighting history and authentic stories of diversity within athletics”;
- Creating “greater accessibility to leadership discussion and psychological safety where staff can bring their whole self to the table and not have to self-monitor to feel appreciated for who they are despite the insecurities”;
- And promoting and communicating key DEI messages “that can be shared externally and reinforced in public venues inside and outside of the university departments.”
The plan also has UI Athletics creating more conversation spaces about “actual cases to use as teachable moments for educating staff and students on inequities and cultural values”; establishing DEI accountability in performance evaluations; using internal auditing processes to check for systemic inequalities in things like hiring and promotions; and enhancing local and national relationships to foster an “improved presence in targeted diverse communities with our student athletes and coaches.”
Allegations, litigation
The five-page action plan is dated Jan. 13 — a month before 12 former Hawkeye football players signed a $4.2 million settlement terminating the discrimination lawsuit they filed in November 2020 against UI, the Board of Regents, and coaches like Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, former strength coach Chris Doyle, and UI Athletic Director Gary Barta.
The lawsuit is among several alleging discrimination filed against UI Athletics in the last decade — including one from female athletes settled in 2021 and another from former coaches Jane Meyer and Tracey Griesbaum that resulted in a $6.5 million payout.
Daily News
Newsletter Signup
l.
UI Athletics shares DEI ‘action plan’ incorporated in $4.2M settlement
University of Iowa Athletics’ 2023 “diversity, equity, and inclusion five-year action plan” — which the department will get help operationalizing under terms of a new discrimination lawsuit settlement — lists 20-plus “actionable activities,” like designing “spotlight recognition awards for DE&I...
www.thegazette.com