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Community Colleges for Iowa seeks increased state allocations to bridge funding gaps
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa community college leaders told lawmakers Monday they’re hoping to build on progress made last year in providing colleges equitable funding and ensure continued support of statewide programs that help both colleges and students. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Community Colleges for Iowa is asking the Legislature for a $12 million, or 5%, increase in funding for the upcoming year, Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields told members of the Iowa House Higher Education Subcommittee during its Monday meeting.
The organization’s request for state allocations is higher this session than in the past, Shields said, as there are still inequities between colleges that need to be addressed. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill last year giving community college presidents and chancellors control over the formula that calculates how many dollars will go to each college. Community colleges advocated for this legislation, saying it would help address problems of certain institutions being over-funded while others are under-funded.
This year, half of state funds will be disbursed through the old formula and the remaining half will go to five colleges that have been on the lower end of the funding spectrum and need more support. Even if the community college network does not receive an additional $12 million in state funding, Shields confirmed the 50/50 split in dollars would still occur.
The organization is hoping for continued funding for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship program, she said and would like lawmakers to consider changing its income limit, as the program has been underspent by as much as $7 million. Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA are impacting the program in ways that aren’t entirely clear yet, and Shields said it would be something important for the Legislature to consider in the future.
While the education appropriations committee doesn’t oversee this program, Shields said Community Colleges for Iowa is also seeking an increase in funding for the Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund, as it is an important source of funding for workforce training, especially career and technical education.
Shields said career and technical education is the most expensive aspect of community college operations, and money from this fund helps keep popular programs open while also offering region- and student-specific support in some cases. The fund helped revitalize Indian Hills Community College’s Centerville campus with a new, 66,000-square-foot facility for career and technical education.
