Latest news with #CollegeAffordabilityAct
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate passes bill to set tuition increase deadline, form new degree programs
The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bill to set a deadline for approving tuition increases at state universities. (Photo illustration via Getty Images) The Iowa Senate sent a bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk Wednesday that would set a deadline for tuition approval and implement new types of degree programs. Titled the 'College Affordability Act,' House File 440 would require the Iowa Board of Regents set tuition for state universities in the upcoming academic year by April 30 and conduct a study into the potential of freezing a student's tuition in their first undergraduate year, making it so it won't increase over the next three years. State universities would also need to create at least one three-year bachelor's degree program and work study program for employers to pay a student's tuition while they are employed with them under the legislation. The bill passed with unanimous support but some lingering concerns over the Legislature's role in university finances. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, noted the Iowa Board of Regents is considering potential tuition increases for the 2025-2026 academic year this week during its April meeting, but the Legislature has yet to provide them with information on what money they'll see from the state in the future. Quirmbach said he supports the bill and hopes it can serve as a 'shove' to get the Legislature to determine state appropriations for public higher education earlier than this year and in the past. When referencing three-year degree programs, he said there are things the Legislature can do at the K-12 level to help students complete their degree faster, like providing more funding for schools. 'If, by setting this date for the board to act, it can tweak the conscience of the majority party to get their own act together, then this would be useful,' Quirmbach said. 'I can only hope that that proves to be the case.' As state allocations have decreased to the point where anywhere from 60-70% of their budget is made up by tuition, Quirmbach said the universities and board are having to 'take a guess' at how much tuition they'll need to pay their bills. 'Everyone has to imagine that over time, if this Legislature continues to dawdle in approving education appropriations, that the board of regents is going to have to set higher tuitions than they otherwise generally would in order to cover their uncertainty,' Quirmbach said. Sen. Jesse Green, R-Boone, floor manager of the bill, said there are a lot of areas lawmakers need to pay attention to related to this bill, including tuition increases. He added he looks forward to the board's study into tuition freezes, which is supposed to be completed and provided to the General Assembly by the end of this year. 'This issue is more than just their request,' Green said. 'Last year, we gave them $3 million less than their requests, and yet they generated about $35 million more from tuition. So there is a lot that needs to be studied here.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State universities would explore potential tuition freezes under bill
A bill moved ahead by an Iowa Senate subcommittee would have the Iowa Board of Regents study the potential pros and cons of freezing tuition for freshmen. (Photo illustration via Getty Images) An Iowa Senate subcommittee unanimously passed a House-approved bill Thursday to explore possible tuition cost changes and new degree programs at state universities. Titled the 'College Affordability Act,' House File 440 would require the Iowa Board of Regents to complete a feasibility study on the potential of locking in a resident student's tuition price in their first year, ensuring they won't see increases in the next three years of their undergraduate study. The bill would also require the board of regents to approve any tuition increases as April 30 of the previous fiscal year. State universities also would have to develop at least one three-year bachelor's degree program and one work study program for students to work part time while attending school, paid for by their employer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Iowa Board of Regents State Relations Officer Carolann Jensen said the board has already or will complete the directives set in the bill without it needing to be passed into law. 'The board supports the bill, but we don't think it's necessary,' Jensen said. A previous version of the legislation included language that would have capped tuition increases at 3% and required universities to lock in a student's tuition in their first year of study so it wouldn't increase in later years, rather than having universities conduct a study on the topic. However, an amendment adopted during House debate took out these provisions. Senate File 243, the companion to House File 440, still includes sections on capping and freezing tuition. It was recommended for passage by a subcommittee Feb. 19. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said he would sign off on the bill, but added he'd like to see an amendment to allow an exception to the April 30 deadline to set tuition increases if state allocations to universities have not been determined by that time. Quirmbach said he was happy to see the legislation back off from setting tuition caps and freezes, as setting tuition in a way that will ensure university budgets are balanced would become more complicated, and could result in front-loaded, higher prices. Trying to set a tuition price for the next four years rather than just the next year would be difficult, Quirmbach said, with institutions not knowing projected enrollment, changing costs and markets and what state appropriations will look like in the future. 'I think that there are serious problems trying to achieve that,' Quirmbach said. Sen. Doug Campbell, R-Mason City, said he thinks House File 440 is a great piece of legislation for Iowa. 'I like to see this coming forward for the students in the state of Iowa,' Campbell said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
