Relating to general education requirements, core curricula, other functions of regents institutions, and including applicability provisions

This bill relates to general education requirements, core curricula, and other functions of regents institutions. REGENTS INSTITUTIONS —— GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND CORE CURRICULA —— COURSES ON AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. This division provides that the state board of regents (board) must require each institution to establish as a requirement for the completion of any general education requirements or core curricula that an undergraduate student complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government. The requirement applies to undergraduate students beginning enrollment at institutions in academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2028. An institution shall assign a value of at least three semester hours of credit to each course. A required course shall not be exclusively or primarily devoted to the study of subgroups of Americans or other nationalities. A required course shall fulfill the general education or core curriculum requirement for social sciences or humanities, as designated by the institution, that a student is required to complete as a condition of graduation. The division requires an institution to provide equivalent credit toward the required courses to a student transferring to the institution for previous substantially similar coursework. The division does not apply to a student completing a degree program designated by an institution as a degree program of three years or less in duration. The division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to annually designate courses at their respective institutions that satisfy these requirements. The division requires the board to conduct a review of all undergraduate general education requirements and core curricula at institutions no later than December 31, 2026. CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM —— COURSES. This division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa to offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and one three-semester credit hour course in American government. Under current law, the center is required to offer at least one three-semester credit hour course in American history and civil government. The bill provides that if an institution has established general education requirements for undergraduate students that include an American history course requirement or an American government course requirement, the center shall ensure that the courses satisfy those requirements. The bill strikes a requirement that the center coordinate with the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to ensure that such a course is offered to students at each institution either in person or online. The division applies to academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2027. LECTURE AND DEBATE SERIES. This division requires the center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa, the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university, and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each establish an ongoing lecture and debate series by December 31, 2026. The series must promote civil dialogue and debate on the issues most important to the American republic. CENTERS —— ANNUAL REPORTS. This division requires the directors of the center for cyclone civics at Iowa state university and the center for civic education at the university of northern Iowa to each submit an annual report to the governor, the general assembly, and the board of regents by December 31. The report must provide a full account of the respective center’s achievements and identify any opportunities, challenges, and obstacles in the development of the center.