Hunter
05/21/26
A last-minute push by Iowa Republicans may end up requiring University of Iowa students to take classes at its Center for Intellectual Freedom in order to graduate.
A provision was added to the budget bill requiring students take at least six credit hours from the Center to earn an undergraduate degree. Republicans created the Center to combat what they described as liberal indoctrination on college campuses.
The Center opened this spring with $1 million in funding, but student interest and enrollment was low, with one class featuring only 8 students.
A report from the Common Sense Institute said enrollment is unlikely to grow unless the state mandates that students take the classes.
The bill also includes Iowa State and UNI, whose students would be required to complete six credit hours in American History and American Government.
Democrats are pushing Governor Kim Reynolds to line-item veto the provision; she has not indicated whether or not she will sign the bill.