House Republicans plan ‘comprehensive review’ of Iowa higher ed

After banning DEI programming in higher ed last year, the Iowa Legislature prepares to take more swipes at regulating the state’s regent universities which add an estimated $15 billion to Iowa’s gross state product, supporting one out of every ten jobs.

House Republicans plan to continue their regulation focus on higher education in the state. In a statement, House Speaker Pat Grassley said it’s part of an effort to solve the workforce crisis, though it comes as the trend of Republicans restricting what can be taught on college campuses continues. 

“Iowa House Republicans have been proactive and innovative in our solutions to address this, including our efforts to refocus Iowa’s higher education system on producing students ready to fill high-need jobs in our state,” Grassley said.

The new committee will be chaired by Republican Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis. Collins was responsible for the Iowa Legislature’s directives to the appointed board that manages the state’s universities, the Iowa Board of Regents. Among them was the elimination and restructuring of diversity, equity and inclusion offices not required for accreditation or under federal or state law. 

“We have a tremendous amount of work to do in restoring Iowans’ confidence in our institutions, controlling costs, and returning the focus of our higher education system away from ideological agendas, and back to the pursuit of academic excellence,” Collins said.

Rep. Jeff Shipley of Fairfield will be the new committee’s vice chair. 

After receiving no increase for fiscal year 2024, the Regent universities received a 2.5% increase in state appropriations for fiscal year 2025, moving from $1.66 billion to $1.72 billion. Back in fiscal year 1981, state appropriations accounted for more than 75% of the funding. As of the fiscal year 2025, it’s down to 29%. Student tuition meanwhile has grown from 21% in fiscal year 1981 to 65% in fiscal year 2025.

Despite tremendous changes in the Regent universities’ dependence on the state, it has grown in that time into one of the state’s major economic engines. According to an analysis of fiscal year 2021-2022, the universities’ combined activities added $14.9 billion to the state’s economy, accounting for 7.1% of the total gross state product. That includes operations spending ($2.3 billion), UI Health Care ($2 billion), and sprawling economic development to support its campuses ($2.3 billion). During that year, taxpayers provided just $675.3 million in state funding. In comparison, students paid a total of $879.1 million in tuition, fees, supplies and interest on student loans. 

The Iowa Legislature begins its 2025 session on January 13.