Hunter
02/11/26
After issuing a request for qualifications from consulting firms to lead the search for a permanent director for the new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom, the Iowa Board of Regents reports they’ve received just one response.
The Gazette reports the initial request was issued a month ago and set a response deadline of February 6th. However, board spokesman Josh Lehman said the timeline of awarding a contract by February 20th is only tentative, and pointed out that the 13-member committee responsible for screening the proposals and selecting a firm isn’t having their first meeting until Thursday.
The committee includes Iowans like former governor Terry Brandstad but does not include anyone from the University of Iowa. Instead, professors from Princeton, George Mason, Emory, Stanford and Northwestern are part of the scholar committee.
Any firm selected to lead the search, according to the request for qualifications, must show dedication to compliance with all state and federal laws prohibiting the considerations of DEI staements and personal political ideology in hiring.
The Center hoped to offer four classes in the spring semester, but low enrollment forced those classes to be cancelled. They’re hoping to focus on two courses being offered between March and May.