Dec 22, 2015 02:52 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Starting in 2017, the University of Iowa will introduce a "diversity and inclusion" curriculum requirement for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The school is UI's largest undergraduate college, meaning a majority of the school's incoming class that year will have to fill the requirement, The Iowa City Press Citizen reported.

"The classes must include some kind of discussion of difference - whether issues of disabilities, religious differences, racial differences, and so on," Nic Arp, director of communications for the college, told the newspaper. "We're hoping that we get course proposals from all the different disciplines - fine arts, theater arts, creative writing, or even in the hard sciences."

Earlier this month, high-ranking UI administrators issued a letter to the campus community stating the school's commitment to diversity. The letter indicated initiatives like the newly announced curriculum requirement would be part of a larger solution.

Other initiatives and actions included denouncing biased comments students made on social media platforms, training for addressing "uncomfortable topics," and more, according to The Press Citizen.

"Many in our university community make a personal commitment to call out and reject harassment and hateful behaviors when they see them," read the letter. "We applaud that level of personal responsibility and believe that it represents the true spirit of our institution and our state. We expect all UI students, faculty, and staff to contribute to creating the best possible campus environment."

The UI Student Government approved a resolution in February to change the "Values, Society and Diversity" curriculum requirement, which included physical education and health classes. The new diversity and inclusion curriculum requirement will take place in 2017 to allow for the courses ample time to be developed, The Press Citizen reported.

"I'd honestly rather see some time and thought put into the proposal because this is not a Band-Aid solution," Kyra Seay, a former member of UISG who supported the resolution, told the newspaper. "It will take some time and many discussions and will need to be properly planned."

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