University of Iowa Regents Seek Firm to Find Center for Intellectual Freedom Director

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The Board of Regents at the University of Iowa has received only one response to its request for proposals to help find a new director for the university's Center for Intellectual Freedom. The center was established to promote free speech and open discourse on campus, but has faced challenges in recent years.

Why it matters

The search for a new director comes at a critical time, as universities across the country grapple with balancing free speech protections with concerns over hate speech and misinformation. The Center for Intellectual Freedom plays a key role in shaping the campus dialogue on these issues.

The details

The Board of Regents, which oversees Iowa's public universities, issued a request for proposals in January 2026 seeking a firm to assist in the search for a new director of the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa. However, the board received only a single response to the RFP, indicating a potential lack of interest or qualified candidates for the position.

• The Board of Regents issued the RFP in January 2026.
• The board received the single response in February 2026.

What’s next

The Board of Regents will review the single proposal received and determine how to proceed with the search for a new Center for Intellectual Freedom director.