2 weeks Ago By ERIN MURPHY Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
JOHNSTON — Republican state lawmakers are pursuing more higher education policies this year because the state Board of Regents, which governs Iowa’s public universities, has not done its job, a key Iowa House Republican legislator said Friday. “Well, the Board of Regents should have been doing their job, quite frankly, and I believe the House Republicans at least believe there’s many instances where they have not stepped up and actually governed the universities,” Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis, said during the taping of “Iowa Press” at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston.
“Many of the issues we’re dealing with I believe should have been addressed with the Board of Regents, but they have been unwilling to do so. So that's a major problem,” said Collins, who chairs the new Higher Education Committee in the Iowa House. In the first weeks of this session, the Higher Education Committee has introduced legislation that would: Collins was asked Friday whether he believes some of those legislative proposals overstep lawmakers’ role and tread on the work of the Iowa Board of Regents, a nine-member citizen board of gubernatorial appointees that oversee that state’ three public universities: the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa State University in Ames, and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
“You look across state government, whether it’s the Racing and Gaming Commission, many other commissions and boards the state Legislature addresses, we’re happy to get involved in instances where we believe steps are not being taken,” Collins said. Early in the session, a speaker from a New York-based conservative policy group was invited to speak to the Higher Education Committee and urged lawmakers to get involved in higher education policy. Iowa Rep.
Ross Wilburn, of Ames, the top Democrat on the House Higher Education Committee, pointed out that the Board of Regents members are appointed by the governor. All current members were appointed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.
“If Rep. Collins doesn’t feel the Regents were doing their job, those are Gov. Reynolds’ appointees, so his issue is with Gov.
Reynolds, not with the Regents,” Wilburn said. A Board of Regents spokesman said Friday the board did not have a response to Collins’ comments. House Republicans also have proposed legislation that would impact the state’s private colleges.
One proposal would affect the Iowa Tuition Grant, a taxpayer-funded scholarship program for students who attend a private college in Iowa. Under the bill, no Iowa Tuition Grant funds would be awarded to a private college that has or staffs a diversity, equity and inclusion office. “We believe it’s important enough that we want to take that step forward (with private colleges),” Collins said.
“We have already taken that step with the Regents institutions. You’ve seen a bill when it comes to community colleges as well. “And I think that aligns with many of the efforts of the Trump administration as well to get rid of DEI throughout state government and the federal government.
” Wilburn, whose previous jobs have included diversity officer and associate director of community economic development at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said he believes Republican-led attempts to eliminate diversity equity and inclusion programs at the state and federal levels are “tapping into fear and trying to stoke fear into Iowans.” “This (new Iowa House committee) was supposed to be a review, but they’ve got a whole lot of solutions in their mind that are getting away from the jewel that diversity is,” Wilburn said. “Diversity is why you cannot be denied a job because of a certain hairstyle that you have.
It’s a reason that women who have a child can have breastfeeding rooms available,” he said. “It’s a reason that an inclusive park is available for kids with disabilities to play baseball. “And they call it identity politics.
We talk about making sure that there are opportunities for everyone.” “Iowa Press” can be viewed on Iowa PBS at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays or noon Sundays, or anytime online at iowapbs.org ..
