DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — Iowa taxpayers could be responsible for more than $2 million in additional annual costs to meet new American history and civics requirements at the state’s three public universities.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law last week that establishes the new course requirements. At the University of Iowa, students will be required to take classes at the Center for Intellectual Freedom, where officials have begun planning for the new classes.
At the University of Iowa alone, the courses could cost nearly $900,000 a year to run. The new law that mandates certain classes was partly driven by low enrollment in the Center for Intellectual Freedom’s courses last semester that, until now, were optional.
Starting in fall 2028, up to 6,000 UI students per semester will be required to complete the courses to graduate. The Center’s Council Chair Christine Hensley said during an Iowa Board of Regents meeting that there is significant work needed to get there.
“You’re looking at, you know, potentially 6,000 students and that’s going to require a significant amount of faculty that be hired and the faculty are going to have to be hired before the courses start in the fall of 28 so there’s just a lot of work ahead,” Hensley said.
Democrat lawmakers have criticized the law saying it will cost students more since they will have to pay for additional classes. But Interim Director Luciano DeCastro said the educational benefit outweighs the cost.
“Universities impose course requirements precisely because the educational benefit to the student exceeds the cost,” DeCastro said.
He said the courses’ low enrollment was typical of electives with an average of 10 students per class. DeCastro told members of the Board of Regents that enrollment numbers will go up when the law takes effect.
“The time of the student is competing with a lot of different courses. The students try to put priority on courses that will bring not only hours but also bring them closer to a complete major or minor or certificate,” DeCastro said.
The law also requires students at University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University to take six credits in civics courses. LSA projects that could cost a minimum of $2.1 million to implement across all three schools.
Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com ; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV on X/Twitter @isabellaw_gray , and on Instagram @IsabellaWarrenTV.
