State:
Make sure you are signed up for Quorum to stay up to date on all things government relations and legislative session. This is our grassroots advocacy platform that helps you keep up to date with what we’re tracking during session, send messages to your legislators on important issues, and get involved with advocating for your college and community! Thank you to all who have already signed up. Your strong support and engagement throughout this past legislative session ensured that the voice of community colleges was heard.
Our current focus remains on the upcoming November elections, with candidates increasing their fundraising efforts so that they can hold more public events to learn what is important to Iowans in their community and increase support from their area. Community Colleges for Iowa is involved in this process through our Iowans For A Skilled Workforce political action committee. The ISW PAC is a bipartisan PAC created by supporters of Iowa’s community colleges to help support legislators dedicated to Iowa’s community colleges and to educating legislators about the issues impacting those training the next generation of Iowa’s skilled workers. For those who are interested in donating to Iowans For A Skilled Workforce, or to learn more, please check out our ISW PAC webpage. The funds donated will help ensure that the voice of community colleges is heard.
Federal:
The federal higher education landscape remains highly active, with multiple negotiated rulemaking efforts and regulatory changes moving simultaneously. Key initiatives include Workforce Pell implementation, the new STATS earnings accountability rule published July 1, RISE regulations on professional programs and student loans are currently facing legal challenges, and the forthcoming Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) proposal, which will address accreditation and could have major implications.
A major theme across federal discussions is the growing emphasis on outcomes, including earnings, student success, transfer effectiveness, and return on investment. These changes will increase expectations around data reporting, interoperability, and institutional accountability.
Additional changes are anticipated in federal grant administration, including updates to OMB grant rules and SAM certifications. Colleges should expect continued regulatory activity, expanded compliance requirements, and ongoing opportunities to provide feedback through public comment processes.