Advocacy and Policy
State Policy
The Governor of Iowa gave the Condition of the State on Tuesday, January 13, outlining the office’s priorities for the 2026 legislative session and proposed budget for FY 2027. Some of the proposed changes impacting community colleges include an increase of 1.5% to state general aid, a $1 million cut to Adult Education, and potential changes to SAVE funds. For more details, information about other proposed changes, and to receive weekly legislative updates, make sure you’re signed up for Quorum.
Federal Update
AHEAD Rulemaking Committee agrees on accountability regulations
This past Friday, January 9th, the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) negotiated-rulemaking committee completed their second round of negotiations, reaching consensus on draft regulations that would implement a new accountability structure for nearly all Title IV- eligible programs. This means that when the U.S. Education Department issues the Notice of Proposed Action, they must use this version of the draft regulations.
An important inclusion in the draft was the implementation of the new accountability framework enacted in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which ties Direct Loan eligibility for degree and graduate certificate programs to defined earnings benchmarks. At a high-level, the framework requires undergraduate degree programs to lead to wages that are greater than those of high school graduates ages 25-34 in the state where the institution is located. The regulations also modify existing Gainful Employment (GE)/Financial Value Transparency regulations to align with this framework. Meaning GE and eligible non-GE programs will now also be measured on whether program completers’ median earnings are equal to or exceed median earnings of high school graduates.
Programs that fail to meet the earnings premium measure in two out of three consecutive years, for the most part, would only lose eligibility for the Direct Loan Program, while remaining eligible for other Title IV programs like Pell grants. This limitation of consequence was a large part of the negotiations and appeared like it might threaten the committee’s chances of reaching a consensus but was ultimately included.
CCforIowa Bulletin
2026 Marks 60 Years of Impact for Iowa’s Statewide Community College System
Community colleges have been working for Iowa since 1966. With 2026 marking the 60th Anniversary of Iowa’s Statewide Community College System, we celebrate the millions of students served with accessible, affordable higher education. Decades of important decisions by state legislators have led to every Iowan being able to live in their homes, work in their communities, and grow in their careers. Throughout the year, we will be reflecting on our impact to date while looking toward the future of the community college system and our state as a whole. Thank you for the role you have in reaching this milestone!
Register for CCforIowa + Coursedog’s “Thought Leadership” Webinar, to be held February 12
From Patchwork to Platform: Reimagining Academic Operations for Iowa’s Community Colleges
Iowa’s community colleges are being asked to move faster— responding to workforce needs, supporting transfer pathways, and serving an increasingly diverse student population. Yet many institutions still rely on legacy systems and manual workarounds to manage curriculum, catalogs, and scheduling.
In partnership with the Community Colleges for Iowa, Brian Davenport (Director of Partnerships) will share how Iowa community colleges are modernizing academic operations to increase agility, improve collaboration, and reduce administrative burden. This session will explore the limitations of legacy technology, what modernization looks like in practice, and how a unified academic operations platform can better support today’s academic and workforce priorities.
A multitude of roles are encouraged to attend, from registrar to operations to leadership. All involved in aligning functions across your college’s higher ed ecosystem can expect to get new ideas for your persistent challenges. Register for the webinar here.
Register for the Day on the Hill Webinar, to be held February 20
Community College Supporters Celebrating 60 Years of Impact at the Capitol
Get ready for our annual “Community Colleges Day on the Hill” with this free webinar, led by our advocacy team. The webinar will overview the current make-up of the legislature, where we are in the legislative process, and what community college issues we’re focusing on. We will also be sharing best practices for effectively talking with legislators, so all community college supporters can feel confident in the Capitol. Finally, the webinar will close with a brief overview of the event itself and day-of logistics. Register for the webinar here.
Register for the Data in Action Series’ Spring Sessions + Topics
Building a Data-Driven Community College Culture in Iowa: Empowering Campuses Through Insight, Strategy, and Collaboration
As the first state in the nation to participate in the National Community College Benchmark Project and to partner with the Richmond Federal Reserve on its Survey of Community College Outcomes, Iowa’s community colleges have access to two complementary, high-impact data resources.
The National Community College Benchmark Project provides national comparisons of student progress, completion, and equity across peer institutions, allowing colleges to understand their performance in context and identify opportunities for improvement. The Richmond Federal Reserve’s Survey of Community College Outcomes captures information that is not available through traditional administrative data, including graduates’ employment experiences, earnings, further education, and perceptions of how well their education prepared them for the workforce.
The goal of this series is to empower Iowa’s community colleges with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative strategies necessary to foster a culture of data-informed decision-making that improves student success and institutional effectiveness. This series will help campuses integrate insights from both initiatives, translate data into action, and collaborate across institutions to align strategy with evidence, strengthen accountability, and use data intentionally to expand opportunity and change lives across Iowa.
Each session has a topic that may be helpful to several departments or positions on each campus. All who are interested are encouraged to attend as we embrace data at every level.
Registration is open now for the following sessions/topics:
Tuesday, February 17 – 10-11:30 am – Using Data to Improve Student Success
Wednesday, March 25 – 12-1:30 pm – Program Review & Curriculum Improvement
Monday, April 20 – 3-4:30 pm – Workforce Alignment & Employer Engagement
Thursday, May 14 – 9-10:30 am – Enrollment Management & Strategic Planning
Monday, June 8 – 12-1:30 pm – Operational Efficiency & Resource Allocation
Each of the session descriptions are available here.
News
U.S. Department of Ed. Approves Iowa’s Returning Education to the States Waiver
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education approved Iowa’s Returning Education to the States Waiver, empowering state education officials to have more discretion over their federal education dollars. Iowa is the first state to apply for and receive such a waiver, which will allow state leaders to focus federal dollars on work that best improves the achievement of Iowa students. CCforIowa will send further information about how this affects institutions as we learn more.
Iowa Capital Dispatch: “Community college leaders look to lawmakers for additional funds, support”
Our Executive Director Emily Shields spoke with reporter Brooklyn Draisey, a Report for America corps member covering higher education. The interview shares the big picture behind policies on the table this legislative session, which is positioning to be a formative year as 2026 marks 60 years since the Iowa Legislature created our state’s unique community college model. Read the article here.
Radio Iowa News: “House GOP considers four-year degree option at Iowa community colleges”
House Speaker Pat Grassley, House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, and Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, Rep. Taylor Collins, share their perspectives on plans to have community colleges grant four-year degrees. Community colleges in 24 other states offer four-year degrees, mostly in high demand areas like nursing, business and education. Read the article here.
Iowa Capital Dispatch: “Community college partnership aims to ease military vets into transportation jobs”
Thanks to a new partnership between Southeastern Community College and the U.S. Defense Dept., active military members will be able to start training for transportation industry jobs before their service ends. The Dept. of Defense’s SkillBridge Initiative aims to help service members gain skills in stable careers so they can confidently transition when their service ends. Read the article here.
Corridor Business Journal: Kirkwood Community College President, Dr. Kristie Fisher, Named Among CBJ’s 25 Most Influential Leaders of 2025
Dr. Fisher has been named one of Corridor Business Journal’s 25 Most Influential Leaders of 2025 — a well-deserved recognition of her leadership, vision, and impact on our college and the broader Corridor community. From championing student success to guiding Kirkwood’s role in regional workforce and education initiatives, Dr. Fisher continues to make a meaningful difference every day. Full list of honorees here.
In Case You Missed It: CCforIowa Celebrates Excellence with 2025 Outstanding Community College Awardees
In December, CCforIowa held an award ceremony during our Convnetion and Tradeshow to celebrate the remarkable in the ways leaders are advancing the mission of community colleges. This includes a faculty and staff member from each of Iowa’s 15 institutions, plus four selective awards. Each of the awardee’s stories are available here.
Resources
Tools: Advocating for Iowa Community Colleges
There are a number of tools that we will use the entirety of the legislative session. Keep these at your fingertips as our policies and priorities progress!
- Bill Tracker: The most current information on all bills that have any impact on community colleges.
- Legislative Priorities: The basis of all bills, policies, and changes being considered.
- Quorum: The way to connect to your legislator with prepared messages on the most important issues.
Training: Register for the Iowa Community College AI in Teaching Workshops to be held February 27 and March 27, virtually (free)
Iowa community college faculty are invited to participate in a half-day professional learning session focused on the role of artificial intelligence in community college instruction. This workshop will bring together faculty from across disciplines to explore how AI is shaping teaching, learning, and assessment.
The session will begin at noon with opening remarks from faculty leaders at NICC and DMACC. Topics will include current trends in artificial intelligence, instructional design considerations, ethical and responsible use of AI, and the implications of AI for academic integrity.
Participants will then move into discipline-based breakout sessions facilitated by faculty colleagues. These discussions will provide an opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and consider practical applications of AI within specific fields. The day will conclude with a group share-out and closing remarks, with the session ending at 4:30 pm.
This session is designed for faculty at all levels of experience with AI, from those just beginning to explore these tools to those already integrating them into their teaching.
Trustee Tip: Lead With Iowa’s “Why” – Access + Workforce Results
As you engage with your community and legislators this session, one of the most effective things you can do is connect today’s policy conversations to Iowa’s long-standing community college mission: providing open access education while delivering workforce-ready results.
A quick way to ground that message is to reference Iowa’s long-standing workforce and economic development tools, programs that have been building opportunity for Iowans for decades, including:
- 260E (Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program, established 1983) — helping businesses create and train for new jobs
- 260F (Iowa Jobs Training Program, established 1983) — supporting upskilling for existing employees
- 260G (Accelerated Career Education Program, established 1983) — expanding high-demand CTE programs aligned with employers
- WTED (Workforce Training and Economic Development Fund, established 2003) — strengthening and enhancing career and technical education programs, with a strong focus on Iowa’s targeted industry clusters
When funding or accountability questions arise, lead with a reminder that Iowa’s community colleges aren’t new to workforce solutions – we’ve been delivering them through proven state programs for decades. Learn more in the Trustee Handbook here.
