Advocacy and Policy
State: The end of the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session
The 2026 Legislative Session adjourned sine die on Sunday, May 3, at 7:07 pm after an almost 36-hour long marathon session. The chambers worked around the clock, in negotiations and floor debate, to finalize agreements on property taxes, budgets, and a few outstanding policy issues.
The session upheld the value of community colleges in Iowa’s education and workforce landscape while reshaping service delivery and increasing compliance requirements. Thanks to widespread advocacy, Community Colleges for Iowa and our network of partners helped shape legislation that impacts funding, governance, and regulatory expectations for all 15 institutions.
With the conclusion of session, the Governor has until June 2, 2026, to act on bills that were passed by the legislature. During this window, the Governor and her office will have to review bills and decide whether to sign them into law, veto the entire bill, or line-item veto portions of an appropriations bill.
As bills are signed into law, some will require immediate institutional attention – we’re committed to supporting colleges through these transitions and advocating for the resources and flexibility they need to serve Iowans throughout the state.
Make sure you are signed up for Quorum to get updates on where things are during session and how they ended. Thank you for your strong support and engagement throughout this legislative session. Your advocacy ensured that the voice of community colleges was heard.
Federal: Final Workforce Pell Grant Rules
Earlier this week, on Tuesday May 19, the U.S. Department of Education announced the final rules for the implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant program. This program, as well as the rules, will start on July 1, 2026, allowing students to receive grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term education programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs.
This means that a program must show that it is between 8-15 weeks, be 150-199 clock hours, and get approved by the state governor and Secretary of Education to be eligible. Additionally, the programs must show a 70 percent job completion and job placement rate and have a higher Value-Added Earnings than comparable low-wage workers.
An important rule change that occurred thanks to strong advocacy from many community college leaders, trustees, and advocates was excluding students who complete a Workforce Pell Grant and remain enrolled in higher education from the value-added earnings metric. Meaning future students enrolled in these programs won’t get punished for past-enrollees not immediately entering the workforce.
Unfortunately, the updated rules still require programs to meet the above-mentioned requirements for 12-months prior to approval – instead of existing for 12-months and proving they meet the requirements at the time of application. Meaning fewer programs will likely start on July 1, but we will hopefully see more programs get added as they gradually meet the requirements for the 12-months.
CCforIowa Bulletin
Celebrating Successful Community College Graduates This Spring
Spring often brings the largest commencements at Iowa community colleges, where we celebrate students as they take the next step in their professional and personal journeys. In the eyes of every graduate, we see your work. Every part of what makes your campus special can be traced to thoughtful faculty, staff, and administrators. Our year-round calendars mean many of us are already diving into summer, but we couldn’t let this moment pass us by without saying our most sincere thank you for the ways you support student success.
Board Retreat Brings Big Picture Discussions
This week, we hosted our board – one trustee representative from each of our 15 community colleges – for our once-a-year board retreat. This complements our year-round board meetings as an opportunity to get creative, think big picture, and connect on both strengths and changes. Trustees will be bringing this energy back to their campuses as we continue to work together as one voice for the Iowa Community College System!
Monique Hits the Road for NICC Business Summit
Some of our favorite days are when we get to join you on campus – and this trip to Peosta was definitely one of those days. Monique joined business executives and educators for a joint session focused on “The Cost of Culture.” Speaker Nora Burns shared about The Undercover Project, where she went on more than 350 job interviews and spent 15 months working undercover on the front lines to gain fresh insight into the employee experience and uncover the strategies that truly build—or break—workplace culture. The group discussed what today’s students are looking for in employers, while also diving into the disconnect students may have with what the day-to-day of the jobs they think they want are like. Thank you to Northeast Iowa Community College for creating this business summit!
Sharing Student Success Stories on Social Media
Our 2026 PTK Iowa All-Academic Team are getting year-round recognition as we share special parts of their journey and what’s led to their success on social media. We’ve already gotten started on showcasing these students with very different backgrounds and stories. Jump over to our channels to read more and follow along!
Summer Trustee Conference: Registration Open
With 124 trustees across the state, this is the one time a year we get to gather, focusing on ways we can further bolster our own community college and the Iowa Community College System as a whole. Our 60th anniversary will be a lens to honor the past, highlight the present, and look ahead to the future of student success in Iowa.
Event overview:
- Who: Trustees and Presidents
- When: July 7 (optional afternoon activities), July 8 (day – conference, night – awards), and July 9 (dismissal at lunch for easier travels)
- Where: Iowa Valley Community College District, 3700 S Center St, Marshalltown, IA 50158
- What: Trustees will come together to reflect on six decades of service to students, communities, and the state, while engaging in conversations about the evolving role of governance in strengthening access and opportunity. ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee will join trustees for this special anniversary event.
- Register here (How-to guide for registration platform here)
Annual Events Changing in 2027
We’re excited to announce strategic changes to our annual events to start in 2027: 1) the trustee conference, previously held on its own in the summer, will join the convention and tradeshow in the fall, and 2) launching trustee campus visits for colleges to rotate hosting and showcasing its programming with one-day gatherings.
These changes will maintain current professional development opportunities, increase engagement between college leadership, maximize participation and efficiency by aligning major statewide gatherings, and continue opportunities for trustees to visit colleges for focused tours.
Mark your calendar now for November 10-12, 2027 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The first campus visits will begin in the summer of 2027, more information to come as planning progresses.
News
Ahlers & Cooney: Iowa Supreme Court clarifies scope of closed sessions under Iowa’s open meetings law
On April 17, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a decision to clarify Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i), which allows closed sessions to evaluate professional competency while preventing needless and irreparable injury to the individual’s reputation when under evaluation. Closed sessions can now include a full discussion of performance, ethical conduct, “any necessary incidental matters,” and discussion of complaints not yet filed. The code also clarifies that employees are not entitled by law to be present during a closed session evaluation by a governing board. Read the full article here.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Lama Mohamed of Kirkwood Community College is one of 60 students receiving scholarship complete four-year degree
The Cooke Foundation is committed to expanding access to high-quality, debt-free pathways for high-achieving students with financial need. While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to help more students persist and complete their degrees by reducing financial barriers and providing the academic and advising support needed to navigate the transfer process. This year’s selection process drew more than 1,300 applications from community colleges across the country. Congratulations, Lama and Kirkwood! Read the full article here.
Radio Iowa: Iowa community colleges continue moving toward pre-pandemic enrollment
Iowa Dept. Of Education Community Colleges Bureau Chief Amy Gieske reported that Iowa’s community colleges have seen an increase of 3.1% in enrollment in 2025, which puts the colleges close to pre-pandemic attendance. Gieske also noted that the types of degrees and certifications being sought have changed over the past 5 years, with fewer Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees and an increase in joint enrollment and online attendance. Read the full article here.
The Gazette: Higher gas prices pinch Iowa community college students
Kirkwood Community College students are among the many to feel the strain of rising gas prices. Students who are able are choosing to walk instead of drive, and those who commute have to contend with the cost of every trip to and from campus. Some students report that they are cutting back on other essentials to keep their cars running, while others say they have stopped going out for anything other than school or work. As students struggle, Iowa’s community colleges are working hard to deliver accessible and quality education. Read the full story here.
Our Quad Cities (Local News 4): Eastern Iowa Community Colleges impacted by Canvas attack
A cyberattack on Canvas, a learning management system, impacted thousands of students on May 7, including those at Eastern Iowa Community College. Students logging in to review discussion boards or submit assignments at the end of the school year were unable to access the program and received more time to complete their assigned work. EICC’s IT team monitored the situation and restored access to Canvas after the service was up and running again on May 9. Read the full story here.
The Messenger: Iowa Central football team, sports medicine to get new home
Iowa Central Community College announced a new facility to be constructed in Fort Dodge to house the football program as well as sports medicine, pre-physical therapy, and other athletic training programs. The 25,000 square-foot building will be constructed by Jensen Builders Ltd., and will be funded primarily from student housing fees. College President Jesse Ulrich says that he hopes ground will be broken for the new construction this fall. Read the full story here.
MSN/KCRG: Eastern Iowa Community Colleges launches HVAC training program
Students at Eastern Iowa Community College have the opportunity to complete a new HVAC training program meant to give them hands-on learning experience in a field facing a major shortage of workers. The course covers the fundamentals of electricity, refrigeration, and systems troubleshooting to introduce prospective HVAC professionals to the field. Read the full article here.
Western Iowa Today: Rare white fawn spotted on Indian Hills Community College campus
The Iowa DNR has confirmed the sighting of a newborn white fawn on the Indian Hills Community College campus on May 12. White deer with either leucistic or albino pigmentation represent fewer than 1% of Iowa’s deer population, appearing once out of every 30,000 deer born. The fawn is not abandoned, and the DNR encourages the community to give the deer space and observe it from a distance so the mother can return to it. Read the full article here.
NWestIowa.com: Northwest Iowa Community College honors trustees
This School Board Recognition Month, Northwest Iowa Community College is joining other communities throughout the state to honor their elected school board members. This year’s theme is, “Because of You,” and pays tribute to the dedicated work of the unpaid volunteers who serve on educational boards across Iowa. “The Trustees of Northwest Iowa Community College are knowledgeable, experienced, and committed individuals who provide broad strategic oversight of the college. They take the long-term view so that NCC provides northwest Iowans with a quality education that is both affordable and accessible. In short, they make sure that NCC stays on mission,” said Dr. John Hartog, NCC president. Read the full article here.
The Cornwall Local: Iowa Lakes Community College partners with Minnesota university for nursing education
Iowa Lakes Community College has announced a new partnership with Minnesota State University in Mankato to create a transfer pathway for nursing students seeking to further their education. With a history of quality, hands-on nursing education since 1966, this partnership is another step on the path to keeping accessible education available for all Iowans. Read the full story here.
Decorah News: Two Colleges, One Community: How a Shared Vision is Redefining the NICC Student Experience
Thanks to a partnership with Luther College, Northeast Iowa Community College students are able to live on-campus while attending school. The two colleges developed this partnership thanks to the existing relationship they share, with NICC’s graduations held on Luther College’s grounds and Luther students benefiting from NICC’s Waukon center. This further collaboration provides support for community college students who need to live close to campus in dedicated student housing. Read the full story here.
Des Moines Register: Opinion – Will Iowa let its community colleges innovate?
Guest columnist Erika Liodice notes that Iowa’s community college leadership is excited for innovation and passionate about connecting their students with quality programs that lead to their success— success that is only possible with legislative support and funding. Read the full story here.
Resources
Data in Action Series
Catch These Sessions Created Just For You
Miss May’s session? Get caught up with the recording!
Kelly Friesleben, PhD with the Iowa Department of Education is focused on “Enrollment Management & Strategic Planning.” This session examines how colleges can use data to strengthen marketing, recruitment, and enrollment strategies. Participants explore tools such as predictive enrollment modeling and geo-demographic segmentation to better understand prospective student behavior, target outreach, and refine messaging. The session will demonstrate how data-informed approaches can enhance recruitment efforts and support more effective enrollment planning. See the recording!
Plan to join us live for our final session!
Our fifth and final session will be “Program Review & Curriculum Improvement,” to be held on Monday, June 8, from 12-1:30 p.m. This session will focus on how colleges can embed meaningful data into academic program evaluation to strengthen decision-making and improve student outcomes. Participants will review key metrics used in program review, including course success rates, transfer performance, and labor market results. The session will also address how developmental education departments can better use their own data during program review to inform improvements and align with broader institutional goals. Register now!
