(Des Moines, IA) — It’s been 53 years since the Iowa Legislature has had a committee on Higher Education. Today, the Iowa House of Representatives’ committee on the topic met to approve its rules before Republicans caucused.
Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Des Moines County) will chair the committee.
“Looking back [to the last time], it was a time when our campuses were in chaos,” Collins says. “In my opinion, we have a different problem now. And that is a crisis of confidence in our higher education system.”
He spoke on his priorities over the next two years.
“This committee will consider legislation to increase transparency,” Collins says. “Control costs, increases intellectual diversity on campus…increase proficiency among graduates.”
One talking point from Speaker Pat Grassley (R-Butler County) in the days leading up to the session was addressing return on investment for taxpayer dollars. Democrats concur, but want to know how Republicans want to measure that.
Rep. Ross Wilburn (D-Story County) is the minority ranking member on the committee.
“While I think it’s important that we do have return on investment, which has been put out there,” Wilburn says. “We need to know what metrics we’re going to measure those by.”
The committee passed its rules as its only action for the day.
