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IA SF244
IA SF244A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.
summary
Introduced
02/10/2025
02/10/2025
In Committee
02/10/2025
02/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill requires the state board of regents (board) to develop and adopt a policy establishing general education requirements for undergraduate students. The bill provides required content of the policy. The general education requirements shall include required coursework in English composition, a world language, mathematics and statistics, natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities, western heritage, and American heritage. The bill provides minimum semester hours for each subject and specifies additional requirements for certain subjects. The general education requirements shall not exceed 40 total semester hours. The bill prohibits a regents institution or a school or other component of a regents institution from establishing any general education requirement not specifically authorized in the bill. The bill provides additional standards for the general education requirements , including standards for transfer students. The bill requires the board to adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa. The policy shall not limit the academic freedom of any course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s course or limit the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting. The bill provides that the general education requirements shall not apply to a student completing a degree program that is designated by a regents institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration. The bill authorizes the board to waive one or more general education requirements for a degree program if the board determines the program is in a complex field or requires an increased amount of focus on the courses related to a student’s major. The bill authorizes any person to notify the attorney general of a regents institution’s potential violation of the requirements of the bill. The attorney general may bring an action against an institution for a writ of mandamus to compel the institution to comply. The bill applies to students beginning enrollment at regents institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
AI Summary
This bill, known as the Core Curriculum Act, establishes standardized general education requirements for undergraduate students at Iowa's regent institutions (public universities). The bill requires the state board of regents to develop a policy mandating that undergraduate degrees include 40 semester credit hours of specific coursework across eight categories: English composition, world language, mathematics and statistics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, western heritage, and American heritage. Institutions must designate up to ten courses to satisfy these requirements and cannot create additional general education requirements beyond those specified. The bill also includes provisions preventing course content from "distorting" historical events or incorporating what it considers identity politics, while maintaining that course instructors retain academic freedom. The bill provides some flexibility, allowing waivers for specialized degree programs and ensuring transfer students receive equivalent credit. Notably, these requirements will not apply to students enrolling in degree programs shorter than three years and will take effect for students beginning enrollment in academic years starting July 1, 2027. The bill allows any person to notify the attorney general about potential non-compliance, and the attorney general can take legal action to enforce the requirements.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Senate Education Subcommittee (10:30:00 3/6/2025 Lobbyist Lounge) (on 03/06/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF244 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF244.html |
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