HF 135 (LSB 1483HV (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 135

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 11)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the responsibilities of the state board of regents and the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including requiring the board to publish certain information related to the average income and student debt of institution graduates and requiring the institutions to provide career services to undergraduates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 262.9, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  39.  a.  Develop and publish on the board’s internet site a report related to students who have completed a baccalaureate degree program at an institution of higher education governed by the board that is sortable by graduating class, academic major, and institution of higher education and that includes all of the following information:
   (1)  The percentage of students who have completed a master’s or doctorate degree program after completing the baccalaureate degree program.
   (2)  The median annual income of students one year, five years, and ten years after completing the baccalaureate degree program.
   (3)  The median student loan debt of students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program.
   (4)  The ratio of the student loan debt of students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program to the annual gross income of such students.
   (5)  An estimate of the amount of student loan payment students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program are required to make each month and the amount, expressed as a percentage, of such payments related to the students’ monthly gross income.
   b.  Direct the institutions of higher education governed by the board to provide the board with the information necessary to complete and annually update the report described in paragraph “a”.
   c.  Direct the institutions of higher education governed by the board to publish a link to the report described in paragraph “a” on the institution’s internet site.
   d.  Direct the institutions of higher education governed by the board to adopt procedures, subject to the approval of the board, that connect students who are in the process of completing the first year of a baccalaureate degree program at an institution with career planning services, career coaching services, and related services. The procedures shall prohibit a student from registering for classes in the student’s second year of the baccalaureate degree program until all of the following occur:
   (1)  The student registers with the institution’s career center or career services office.
   (2)  The student completes a career readiness training module provided by the institution.
   (3)  The institution’s career center or career services office provides the student with a link to the report described in paragraph “a”.
   (4)  The student provides a written notice to the institution indicating that the student has been provided with the link to the report described in paragraph “a” and, if the student has declared an academic major, the student understands the employment and wage prospects associated with the student’s academic major.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the responsibilities of the state board of regents and the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including requiring the board to publish information related to the average income and student debt of students who have completed a baccalaureate program and requiring the institutions to provide the board with information about such students and adopt procedures designed to connect students with career planning services.
   The bill requires the board to develop and publish on the board’s internet site a report related to students who have completed a baccalaureate degree program at an institution that is sortable by graduating class, academic major, and institution. The bill requires this report to include information related to the percentage of students who have completed a master’s or doctorate degree program after completing the baccalaureate degree program; the median annual income of students after completing the baccalaureate degree program; the median student loan debt of students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program; the ratio of the student loan debt of students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program to the annual gross income of such students; and an estimate of the amount of student loan payment students who have completed the baccalaureate degree program are required to make each month and the amount, expressed as a percentage, of such payments related to the students’ monthly gross income. The bill also requires the board to direct the institutions to provide the board with the information necessary to complete and annually update the report and publish a link to the report on the institution’s internet site.
   The bill requires the institutions to adopt procedures, subject to the approval of the board, that connect students who are in the process of completing the first year of a baccalaureate degree program with career planning services, career coaching services, and related services. The bill provides that these procedures shall prohibit a student from registering for classes in the student’s second year of the baccalaureate degree program until the student registers with the institution’s career center; the student completes a career readiness training module; the institution’s career center provides the student with a link to the report; and the student provides a written notice to the institution indicating that the student has been provided with the link to the report and, if the student has declared an academic major, the student understands the employment and wage prospects associated with the student’s academic major.