This audio is generated automatically. Please let me know if you have any comments.
Diving overview:
- Iowa community college leaders would be responsible for creating a model for distributing state funds for those institutions under a bill introduced Wednesday by a House panel.
- Iowa's unusual method of distributing general funds to community colleges is codified in law, and any changes would require legislative intervention. The proposed bill would allow college leaders to make annual updates.
- If two-thirds of the 15 leaders cannot reach agreement in a given year, the Iowa Department of Education will take over the task of creating a funding model.
Dive Insights:
Iowa's community college funding formula allocates funds based on several factors, including annual inflation, tuition and the amount of state aid the college received last year.
Under the new proposal, presidents of the state's 15 community colleges Approve the distribution method for the next budget year by October 31.
He said the changes will provide flexibility to the state's community colleges as the higher education landscape changes. Emily Shields is executive director of Community Colleges of Iowa, a membership organization that advocates for educational institutions.
“Our funding formula for community colleges is set out in the code in a very detailed way.” shield said Wednesday.
As a result, funding has not kept pace with enrollment, and there is a growing gap between universities in the amount of aid per student.
“Things are changing much faster.” shield said. “We have to keep up.”
Iowa Community College Board of Regents representatives also supported the bill.
The House Education Budget Subcommittee unanimously approved the bill Wednesday. Send this to a full committee vote. The bill already passed the Iowa Senate earlier this month..
If approved, it will take effect from the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
Higher education leaders and lawmakers elsewhere have also been debating the best way to fund community colleges.
Last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill tying most of the state's funding to community colleges to: Performance-Based MeasurementsThis includes the number of certifications offered in in-demand fields and the wages graduates earn. The new model also increased funding for the state's 50 community colleges.
Ray Martinez, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges He said students' goals have changed as interest in workforce training grows.
The majority of community college students “end up thinking they want to transfer to college,” Martinez said. Texas Standard last week. But more and more students are enrolling in the state's community colleges because they want to “learn a skill and get a job.”
Meanwhile, according to a recent study Hybrid deployment model Based on enrollment, performance indicators, and prior state allocations, it is associated with increased community college enrollment among Black, White, and Asian students.