HSB 63 (LSB 1212YC (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON COLLINS)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Core Curriculum Act”.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  262C.1  Definitions.
   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1.  “Board” means the state board of regents.
   2.  “Institution” means an institution of higher learning governed by the board.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  262C.2  General education requirements.
   The board shall develop and adopt a policy establishing general education requirements for undergraduate students. The policy must include all of the following:
   1.  Each institution shall establish all of the following general education requirements that must be completed for a student to receive an undergraduate degree:
   a.  Six semester credit hours of English composition.
   b.  Six semester credit hours of a world language.
   c.  Six semester credit hours of mathematics and statistics.
   d.  Six semester credit hours of natural sciences.
   e.  Six semester credit hours of social sciences.
   f.  Six semester credit hours of the humanities.
   g.  Three semester credit hours of western heritage. Coursework satisfying this requirement shall consist of introductory survey courses concerning western heritage such as western civilization, British literature, or Greek philosophy. Coursework for western heritage shall also satisfy the required semester hours for either social studies or the humanities, as designated by the institution.
   h.  Three semester credit hours of American heritage. Coursework satisfying this requirement shall consist of introductory survey courses concerning American heritage, such as American history, Iowa history, American government, or American literature. If the institution offers or requires a course on American history and civil government, semester hours for that course shall satisfy this requirement. Coursework for American heritage shall also satisfy the required semester hours for either social studies or the humanities, as designated by the institution.
   2.  An institution shall not establish more than forty semester credit hours of general education requirements. An institution may increase the number of semester hours for any of the requirements of subsection 1, provided that the total number of required semester hours of general education shall not exceed forty.
   3.  An institution or a school or other component of an institution shall not establish any general education requirement not specifically authorized in this section.
   4.  An institution shall designate up to ten semester-length introductory or survey courses that will satisfy the requirements of subsection 1, which the exception of subsection 1, paragraph “b”, for which an institution may designate any number of introductory courses.
   5.  Except as provided in subsection 1, an institution shall not designate any course as satisfying more than one of the general education requirements provided in subsection 1.
   6.  An institution shall provide equivalent credit toward the requirements of subsection 1 to a student transferring to the institution for previous coursework completed by the student that is substantially similar to a requirement of subsection 1.
   7.  If the board or an institution has established a school of intellectual freedom or a center for civic education, the school or center shall annually designate the courses that will satisfy the requirements of subsection 1, paragraphs “g” and “h”.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  262C.3  Standards for course content.
   The board shall adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements established pursuant to section 262C.2 do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa. The policy shall not limit the academic freedom of any course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s course or limit the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  262C.4  Exceptions —— waiver.
   1.  The general education requirements established pursuant to section 262C.2 shall not apply to a student completing a degree program that is designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration.
   2.  The board may waive one or more requirements of section 262.2 for a degree program if the board determines the program is in a complex field or requires an increased amount of focus on the courses related to a student’s major.
    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  262C.5  Enforcement.
   Any person may notify the attorney general of an institution’s potential violation of this chapter. The attorney general may bring an action against an institution for a writ of mandamus to compel the institution to comply with this chapter.
    Sec. 7.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to students beginning enrollment at institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the state board of regents (board) to develop and adopt a policy establishing general education requirements for undergraduate students. The bill provides required content of the policy.
   The general education requirements shall include required coursework in English composition, a world language, mathematics and statistics, natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities, western heritage, and American heritage. The bill provides minimum semester hours for each subject and specifies additional requirements for certain subjects. The general education requirements shall not exceed 40 total semester hours. The bill prohibits a regents institution or a school or other component of a regents institution from establishing any general education requirement not specifically authorized in the bill. The bill provides additional standards for the general education requirements , including standards for transfer students.
   The bill requires the board to adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa. The policy shall not limit the academic freedom of any course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s course or limit the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting.
   The bill provides that the general education requirements shall not apply to a student completing a degree program that is designated by a regents institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration. The bill authorizes the board to waive one or more general education requirements for a degree program if the board determines the program is in a complex field or requires an increased amount of focus on the courses related to a student’s major.
   The bill authorizes any person to notify the attorney general of a regents institution’s potential violation of the requirements of the bill. The attorney general may bring an action against an institution for a writ of mandamus to compel the institution to comply.
   The bill applies to students beginning enrollment at regents institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.