Governor Reynolds Testifies Before Congress on Government Efficiency
Last Wednesday, Governor Kim Reynolds was in Washington D.C. as she gave testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. In 2023, legislation was approved that reduced the number of cabinet officials in Iowa from 37 to 16. Read more here.
Members of the Iowa House Higher Education Committee
The Iowa House of Representatives has established a new Higher Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis) and with Rep. Ross Wilburn (D-Ames) serving as the ranking member. This committee is tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of Iowa's higher education system, including public universities and community colleges. Rep. Collins emphasized the need to restore public confidence in higher education, noting that only 36% of Americans currently have trust in these institutions, a significant decline from 57% a decade ago. The committee aims to address various issues affecting higher education, such as funding, governance, and academic freedom. Rep. Wilburn highlighted the importance of ensuring that any proposed changes support student success and maintain educational quality. Both members expressed a commitment to bipartisan collaboration in evaluating and potentially reforming Iowa's higher education landscape.
Bill Pitches Scholarships for 2-Year Cybersecurity Programs
To address the significant shortage in the U.S. cybersecurity workforce, with approximately 500,000 unfilled positions, House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Mark Green (R-Tennessee) has reintroduced the Cyber PIVOTT Act. This legislation proposes offering full scholarships to students pursuing two-year cybersecurity degrees at community colleges, in exchange for two years of service in federal, state, or local government roles. The American Association of Community Colleges supports this initiative, recognizing its potential to strengthen the cybersecurity talent pipeline. However, some committee Democrats have expressed concerns that recent federal agency cutbacks and reviews under the Trump administration may deter individuals from seeking government employment, potentially undermining the bill's objectives. Additionally, experts highlight the need to move beyond the traditional requirement of four-year degrees for cybersecurity roles, advocating for greater inclusion of two-year programs to meet workforce demands. The Cyber PIVOTT Act also includes provisions to facilitate the transition of community college graduates to four-year institutions, with a "delayed service" clause allowing students to defer government service if they choose to pursue further education.
National Legislative Summit
Over the past week, nearly 1,400 community college leaders, students, and other advocates have been in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 Community College National Legislative Summit. ACCT and American Association of Community College public policy experts reviewed the annual 'green sheet' of community college priorities, which includes opposing risk-sharing proposals, maintaining funding for the Pell Grant Program in the face of budgetary shortfalls, making Pell awards available for short-term training programs and tax-free for students, and reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). These efforts may be buoyed by improving enrollments in higher ed, particularly at community colleges. NLS attendees were also updated on a variety of programs offered through ACCT's Center for Policy & Practice, including supporting institutional adoption of the SNAP Employment & Training program, the ongoing Kids on Campus childcare partnership with the National Head Start Association, and the ACCT Registered Apprenticeship Project, which is developing a cohort of colleges preparing to offer RA programs in emerging areas such as nursing, IT, and advanced manufacturing. NLS participants also heard legal perspectives on recent executive orders; perspectives from key congressional staffers looking ahead to the 119th U.S. Congress; a discussion of federal workforce policies and regulations; an innovative 'Netflix for books' model from Cengage that improved student success at the Community College of Beaver County in Pennsylvania; and student trustees throughout the country deliberated on their priorities. Tuesday, 14 lawmakers sent a bipartisan message of support for community college during Tuesday's Community College Congressional Forum in the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks highlighted her own experience as a community college student as driving her support for opportunity for all students. ACCT is grateful for the record number of community college advocates whose passion for open access to high-quality higher education for all people brought them to the nation's capital this week.
Iowa State University Launches AI-Focused Undergraduate Research Program
The National Science Foundation has awarded a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant to the Translational AI Center (TrAC) in the amount of $465,000 for three years. REU-TrACE is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in cutting-edge AI research, acquiring skills to prepare them for graduate school and the workforce. Student participants will receive: $7,000 stipend to cover living expenses; free on-campus apartment housing; a dining meal plan for use at Iowa State University facilities; a round-trip travel allowance to Ames, Iowa; and local transit support for navigating the campus and surrounding areas. The REU-TrACE program is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at an accredited institution. Applications are due by March 1, 2025. To learn more and apply, click here.
IACEP Conference
Registration for the IACEP conference is now open! Registration is limited to the first 350 people. If needed, there is a block of hotels at the Courtyard Marriott for $104 a night. Additionally, they are taking session proposals and sponsors if you are interested.
Other Federal Updates
Yesterday the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held the confirmation hearing for President Trump's nominee, Linda McMahon, to lead the Department of Education. Some of her comments serve as an indication of support for workforce Pell. Moreover, McMahon articulated that the outright elimination of the Department of Education cannot be done without Congressional action. The independent research arm of the Department of Education, the Institute of Education Sciences, received notification from the Department of Government Efficiency that many of its contracts are to be terminated. This development will end research that helps state and local governments in addition to institutions of education and educators understand a wide variety of education related topics, such as enrollment, achievement, and best instructional practices. The termination of these contracts includes projects that were in progress.