This week was “funnel week” in the Iowa Legislature. This means that all policy bills need to pass out of committee in at least one Chamber in order to continue to be eligible for passage this session. It is typically very busy with many subcommittee and committee meetings, and this year was no exception. A new bill was introduced on Wednesday that would require student-athletes in K-12, Community Colleges and the Board of Regents Universities to only participate in sports based on their sex at birth. A subcommittee and committee meeting were held on Thursday, and the bill was approved. We are monitoring this and researching the impact it would have on our athletic programs and participation in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Check the bill watch below to find out which bills are still “alive” for the time being.
New Economic Impact Study
On Monday, we released an Economic Impact report about Iowa’s Community Colleges by Emsi Burning Glass. The report shows a $5.5 billion impact to Iowa’s economy, including the support of 87,149 jobs to Iowans during the last year. Check out the report and materials including our press release, executive summary, infographic, fact sheet and PowerPoint slides on our website. We encourage you to share the findings with your campus community, local legislators, local news outlets, on social media and with other stakeholders.