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By Rep. Jon Dunwell
The Iowa Legislature, under Speaker Pat Grassley’s leadership, has taken bold steps to reform higher education through the newly formed Higher Education Committee. Facing skyrocketing costs, declining intellectual diversity, and the encroachment of identity politics, the Iowa House passed a series of bills in 2025 to refocus universities on quality education, affordability, and merit-based principles.
House File 269, the Freedom from Indoctrination Act, protects students and faculty from mandatory ideological courses like critical race theory or DEI, preserving academic freedom. House File 401, the Core Curriculum Act, mandates a balanced undergraduate curriculum—covering English, math, sciences, humanities, and American heritage—free from historical distortion or identity politics. House File 295, the Accreditation Autonomy Act, empowers universities to challenge accreditors who impose conflicting standards, safeguarding state law. House File 437 establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa, promoting research and teaching on America’s constitutional foundations while fostering civic engagement and diverse perspectives. House File 440, the College Affordability Act, tackles costs by setting tuition deadlines, mandating work-study and three-year degree options, and exploring a tuition guarantee. Finally, House File 856 replaces DEI with MEI (Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence) at community colleges and private institutions receiving taxpayer funds, ensuring merit drives education.
These reforms reflect Iowa’s commitment to maximizing taxpayer investment — roughly $600 million annually to the Board of Regents — by addressing workforce needs, not ideological agendas. Collaboration with the Regents ensured their support, balancing legislative oversight with institutional autonomy. Critics questioning intervention in private colleges should note that, unlike K-12 schools with accreditation and curriculum standards, private institutions accepting public funds must align with Iowans’ rejection of divisive DEI policies.
By curbing costs, enhancing intellectual diversity, and prioritizing merit, these bills strengthen Iowa’s higher education system, delivering practical, high-quality education for students and taxpayers alike.
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