Indiana University has received almost 50 complaints since the state enacted Senate Enrolled Act 202, an “intellectual diversity” law that allows community members to report faculty conduct.
SEA 202 requires faculty to teach “intellectually diverse” ideas in the classroom. If they don't, their tenure could be in jeopardy. The law went into effect ahead of the 2024 fall semester. Colleges were required to summarize their procedures to comply with the law and report the number of complaints to the Commission for Higher Education.
IU reported receiving legitimate complaints over political speech as well as complaints filed in protest against SEA 202, according to a document obtained by WFIU/WTIU News.
At least one professor was investigated for claims he violated the intellectual diversity law in the spring semester.
Read more: Indiana college 'intellectual diversity' and tenure law into effect
By Dec. 31, IU handled nine complaints that claimed faculty violated SEA 202, according to its report to the commission.
“The nine complaints were about eight different situations (i.e., two of the complaints described the same situation), and involved four different IU campuses,” the university reported. “Eight were about political speech in classroom settings and one was about a failure to consider alternate viewpoints on a non-political matter.”
Read more: IU professor investigated for alleged violation of ‘intellectual diversity’ law
IU dismissed 37 “frivolous” complaints submitted anonymously, which the university interpreted as “a form of protest against SEA 202 compliance.”
“An example of a typical complaint: ‘Professor xxxx studies the black female experience and is an award-winning teacher and prolific publisher,’” IU said. “These 37 complaints were closed with a ‘frivolous’ status and are not included in our count of legitimate SEA 202 complaints.”
IU uses EthicsPoint as its confidential platform for reporting complaints. The IU Compliance Office investigates the complaints. SEA 202 complaints made up 6 percent of all EthicsPoint complaints during that period.
A university spokesperson referred back to IU's report.
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What did other Indiana colleges report?
Three universities — Purdue University, the University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University — had no complaints.
Ball State University received three complaints over classroom dialogue or materials. There were also eight complaints filed by students against the conduct of other students.
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Ivy Tech Community College had one complaint over a “lack of cultural and intellectual diversity in classroom assignments.” A college official reviewed the complaint and found the faculty member provided a variety of political and ideological frameworks. The official decided the faculty member’s class followed Ivy Tech’s policy.
Indiana State University also had one complaint “that a faculty member failed to adequately perform their academic duties and obligations.” The university didn’t provide any additional information in its report.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.
