Des Moines, IA- Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says that if Republicans retain control of the house after the November election, they will push to limit tuition increases at the three state universities.
Radio Iowa reports that this spring, House Republicans proposed a 3% cap on future tuition increases, but it did not pass the Senate.
“I think in the past we’ve looked at tuition freezes and the problem is we’ve done those in such short increments that the institutions of higher education have enough reserves that they can withstand it,” Grassley says. “What we wanted to do is look at a more long-term freeze which really should decrease the cost to deliver the education if you have to really sit down and think: ‘Well, over the next five years we’re limited to 3% growth,’ which our bill did, they’re really going to have to make sure they’re more efficient in delivery of education.”
Grassley says it’s about providing a level of financial certainty to students and parents.
Tuition is covering a larger share of spending at the three state universities as state support for the schools has been declining.
Grassley says that legislators are providing adequate resources to the universities. He also cites shifting money away from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs on the campuses, which are being shut down, to scholarships for students earning degrees in high-demand fields.
“We want to put our money into creating the next workforce. We know that’s an issue across the state,” Grassley says. “…That was a better use of the tax dollars.”
Grassley made his comment during a taping of “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS.
