Latest news with #HouseStudyBill63
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would create new general education standards at Iowa public universities
An Iowa House higher education subcommittee has moved ahead a bill to codify general education requirements at state universities. (Photo courtesy of the University of Northern Iowa) Despite questions about what 'identity politics' entails and concerns about limiting what college instructors can teach in their classrooms, a bill to reimagine general education requirements at public universities has passed out of an Iowa House subcommittee. House Study Bill 63 creates a new set of general education standards for the Iowa Board of Regents to implement at state universities, which includes requirements to take courses in English and composition, math and statistics, natural and social sciences, a world language, the humanities, Western heritage and American heritage. Certain exemptions were placed in the bill for students in programs that are three years or less or who are found to be in a complex area of study. These general education courses cannot 'distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa,' according to the legislation, but it states educators' academic freedom will not be impeded upon. Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison chaired the subcommittee, which included Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, and Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis. Collins said during the meeting the general education requirements are 'all over the place' when the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University's policies are compared. While he said he encourages the Iowa Board of Regents to bring amendments forward to clean up language in the bill, it is important this legislation be passed in order to return universities to a 'true liberal arts education.' 'I think there's a way we can adapt this bill to make sure we are standardizing our core curriculum across the three universities, building a consensus about what our students should be learning and ensuring that we are actually returning to true liberal arts education I believe our higher education system was built on,' Collins said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX One Iowa Director of Policy and Advocacy Keenan Crow said during public comments this legislation would limit academic freedom and restrict what ideas are allowed to be discussed on college campuses, effectively sheltering students from tough ideas that could help them learn to better evaluate arguments and come to their own conclusions. 'While I can appreciate all the language in here about not distorting historical events, which I agree with, what I don't agree with is sheltering students from theories about systemic issues in our state or our country,' Crow said. 'I know these theories will make folks uncomfortable, but this is ideological censorship in what should be an institution of higher learning.' A parent of two teenagers also spoke at the meeting to express her concerns with the bill, which she said could limit the ability of college teachers and mentors to help her children explore new ideas and concepts, even if they do make them uncomfortable. That is one of their favorite things about the public education they've received so far, she said. Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Executive Director Connie Ryan said the organization is 'wondering why the Legislature is mandating what can be taught and what can't be taught at our regents universities,' and the subjects being barred from campus through this bill are important in relation to the U.S. and its history. Both Ryan and Wilburn brought up the lack of a definition of 'identity politics' in the legislation, and Wilburn asked Collins how he came to these specific requirements for general education. Collins said he didn't base them on any state's established policies, but he believes these standards are what 'each student should be learning as they're going through higher education.' Andy Conlin, representing the Cicero Institute and the Foundation for Government Accountability, said in comments supporting the bill that it isn't doing anything really new in the nation, as several states have codified their general education requirements for universities. To his knowledge, Wilburn said no Iowa educators or anyone involved in higher education in the state was consulted on this bill. He added that it feels like jumping the gun to enact legislation before even completing a review of what academic programs are already offered through general education at state universities. 'It just seems peculiar to me, in my personal opinion, that 11 of the 13 bills introduced to the Higher Ed Committee are not about an evaluation or assessment or review, they are specific actions such as this,' Wilburn said. 'And so, at a minimum, it appears to me that this type of legislation will be premature.' The legislation will move to the full higher education committee with support from Collins and Holt, who said lawmakers can look into putting a definition of 'identity politics' into the code. 'Identity politics is teaching principles contrary to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., teaching to judge by skin … color instead of character,' Holt said. 'There's a lot of that going on these days.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Higher Education Committee to consider bills on academic offerings, DEI changes
Higher education bills slated for subcommittee meetings touch on reviewing and changing public university courses and course requirements. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa House of Representatives' new higher education committee is considering various bills aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion at public, private and community colleges, as well as legislation to review and change academic programs and requirements. Legislation would review academic offerings, make changes in courses or propose new ones, as well as further limit diversity, equity and inclusion programming in higher education. Many introduced bills have subcommittee meetings scheduled for this and next week. House Study Bill 50 would require the Iowa Board of Regents review every undergraduate and graduate academic program at each of the three state universities to 'determine whether and to what extent each academic program aligns with current and future workforce needs in Iowa,' according to the legislation. The review, done with the aid of the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development, must be completed by the board's November meeting this year. The board must make recommendations in the report for whether or how each reviewed program should be changed or if it should be eliminated. The legislation stated the report and its recommendations would need to go to Gov. Kim Reynolds and the General Assembly by Nov. 30. A subcommittee meeting for the bill is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House Study Bill 52 would create and set staffing and programming standards for a 'school of intellectual freedom' at the University of Iowa. The legislation would place this new school in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and require at least five faculty members be hired to teach within it. Teaching and research through the school would focus on 'the historical ideas, traditions and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society,' according to the legislation. The school would also develop campus-wide programming on free speech and civil discourse, foster intellectual diversity and encourage civic engagement. An academic council formed by the Iowa Board of Regents would assist in selecting a dean, who would be required to submit an annual report on the school to the governor and the Legislature. A subcommittee meeting on the bill will take place at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28. Labeled the 'Core Curriculum Act,' House Study Bill 63 would require the board of regents to develop a policy for general education requirements and provide the board with the contents of that policy. It would also stop universities from implementing any general education requirements not listed in the bill. In addition to the requirements of English and composition, math and statistics, natural and social sciences, the policy would also include courses in a world language, the humanities, Western heritage and American heritage. Exceptions to these course requirements would include those enrolled in a program lasting three years or less and students determined by the board to be in a 'complex field' or in need of additional focus on their main courses. According to the bill, these general education courses cannot 'distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa.' The legislation states teachers' academic freedoms will not be limited by these policies. A subcommittee meeting has been scheduled for the bill at 8 a.m. Jan. 28. A separate new course would be created and required for graduation through House Study Bill 56. Students earning their bachelor's degree at a state university would need to take a course in American history and civil government, according to the bill, which would include instruction on the United States Constitution and other founding documents, the development and principles of the U.S. government, how the U.S. government compares to others and 'the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals.' A subcommittee will discuss the bill at 4 p.m. on Jan. 28. House Study Bill 60 would bar private universities from starting or maintaining DEI offices, with the risk of becoming ineligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant program if they do not comply. Like the legislation that prohibits state universities from keeping their own DEI offices, exemptions to the new bill include departments and programs required for accreditation or to comply with state or federal law. House Study Bill 61, which will be brought up in subcommittee at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, would add community colleges to the legislation passed last year on DEI offices for public universities. Perceived violations of the law would be directed to the Iowa attorney general, according to the bill. If the university hasn't either corrected itself or proven there was no violation within 30 days of receiving notice, it would stop qualifying for the Iowa Tuition Grant program starting the next school year. Eligibility would be restored the next school year as well if a correction is made. A subcommittee will discuss the bill at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 4. House Study Bill 62 would require that at least half of funding for the Iowa Tuition Grant program go to students enrolling in degree programs relating to 'high-wage and high-demand jobs.' The Workforce Development Board would work with the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to form a list of eligible job fields, according to the bill. A subcommittee will discuss the legislation at noon on Jan. 30. Iowa private higher education officials have previously expressed concerns about how changes to the Iowa Tuition Grant program could affect their institutions and students, but have indicated that they're willing to work with the higher education committee and provide them with the information and answers they require. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
