Advocacy & Policy
State:
With the 2026 session over, and the Governor either signing or vetoing all outstanding bills on June 2 (check out our bill tracker to see where the bills we were following ended), focus throughout the state has since shifted to the June primary results, November elections, and fundraising.
The biggest headline from the June primary was Zach Lahn narrowly winning the Republican nomination for the Iowa gubernatorial race with an unofficial 37.8% of votes over Rep. Randy Feenstra’s unofficial 37% of votes. Meaning Iowa’s November Gubernatorial race is between State Auditor Rob Sand (D) and Zach Lahn (R). Some other notable June primary results were three Iowa House incumbents losing their primary. On the Republican side this was Rep. Brian Lohse and Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, while on the Democrat side it was Rep. Ken Croken. The full list of candidates for the November elections can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State’s webpage and will get updated as candidate filings are reviewed and approved.
Now that the June primary elections have ended, candidates will start increasing their fundraising efforts so that they can hold more public events to learn what is important to Iowans and identify and increase support from their area. Community Colleges for Iowa is involved in this process through our Iowans For A Skilled Workforce political action committee. The ISW PAC is a bipartisan PAC created by supporters of Iowa’s community colleges to help support legislators dedicated to Iowa’s community colleges and to educating legislators about the issues impacting those training the next generation of Iowa’s skilled workers. For those who are interested in donating to Iowans For A Skilled Workforce, or to learn more, please check out our ISW PAC webpage. The funds donated will help ensure that the voice of community colleges is heard.
Make sure you are signed up for Quorum to stay up to date on all things government relations and legislative session. Thank you for your strong support and engagement throughout this past legislative session. Your advocacy ensured that the voice of community colleges was heard.
Federal:
The full U.S. House Appropriations Committee met this past Tuesday, June 9, and voted on their FY27 Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill was passed on a vote of 34 to 28. While there are provisions in the bill that community colleges are supportive of, including:
- Pell Grants: An increase of $50 to the maximum grant, for a total of $7,445
- Strengthening Community College Training Grant (SCCTG): A $10 million increase for a total of $75 million in funding
- TRIO: a $6 million increase for a total of $1.2 billion
- Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP): a $6 million increase for a total of $394 million
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): an increase of $8 million for a total of $1.5 billion.
- Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS): $75 million (level funding).
There remain other approved proposals that are quite concerning:
- Elimination of Adult Basic Education (ABE) funding
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG): $364 million decrease
- Federal Work Study (FWS): $322 million decrease
- Eliminate Subsidized Student Loans for 440,000 Community College Students (4 million total students). Without subsidized loans, students will need to use more costly unsubsidized or private loans, costing thousands of dollars more over the loan term. Approximately 11% of subsidized loans go to community college students.
Interested advocates can use these ACCT resources to reach out to their U.S. House Representative to thank them for the increases and explain the impact the proposed cuts will have on student success, access, and affordability.
CCforIowa Bulletin
Presidents’ Retreat Starts our Summer Strong!
While the presidents of each community college meet monthly as one of our leadership groups, this annual retreat offers a special space to see what sparks as they reflect on the year that’s passed while ideating for the year ahead.
For some of the presidents, this is the very start – recent retirements have led to new leadership in their first weeks in the role. For others, this is simply the newest chapter, continuing to build upon years of service at their Iowa community college. It’s this mix that offers both fresh perspectives and deep understanding to tackle the opportunities and challenges in front of us. Every year offers something different, and we’re grateful to have the most recent additions to our team with us.
We will continue to mark and celebrate each milestone as we meet the needs of today’s students while envisioning the future of higher education in our state.
Hosted the Final Session in the Data in Action Series
All spring long, our network jumped into sessions focused on leveraging data in all parts of our campuses and operations. We hosted our very last one (for now!) focused on “Program Review & Curriculum Improvement,” led by the Iowa Department of Education’s Heather Meissen and Derreck Calkins. We’re so deeply grateful for all of the experts and leaders who shared their time and insights for practical resources around data collection, use, evaluation, and reporting. If you missed any of these live, or want to revisit them with fresh eyes, have no fear: all recordings and slides are available here!
Summer Trustee Conference: Less than a month away!
With 124 trustees across the state, this is the one time a year we get to gather, focusing on ways we can further bolster our own community college and the Iowa Community College System as a whole. Our 60th anniversary will be a lens to honor the past, highlight the present, and look ahead to the future of student success in Iowa. Our evening will be held to celebrate the exceptional leaders among us with our Trustee Awards.
Announcing our 2026 Trustee Awards Honorees
This year, we are pleased to recognize:
- Randy Pash receiving the John P. Kibbie Award, nominated by Iowa Western Community College
- Mark Collett receiving the Larry Ebbers Honorary Trustee Award, nominated by Hawkeye Community College
- Tricia Sutherland receiving the Trustee Leadership Award, representing Western Iowa Tech Community College with
- Dr. Matt Thompson receiving the Chief Executive Officer Award, representing Indian Hills Community College
- Ritchie Industries receiving the Community Service Award, nominated by Iowa Valley Community College District
Read more about these leaders and our years of service awardees here. We look forward to recognizing them further in the next newsletter, on social media, and of course, at the ceremony!
If you are planning on attending the conference or awards and have not yet registered, you can do so here.
Be Ready to Represent at our 4th Annual Convention & Tradeshow
Community Colleges for Iowa’s Convention & Tradeshow is coming back for our fourth consecutive year, even bigger, better, and brighter in 2026. This year’s theme is “Lighting the Path: Staying Grounded, Sparking Opportunity,” inspired by the ways every person and position at our community colleges illuminates our state. Here’s to the ‘lightbulb moments’ that make us excited to wake up each morning and dive into our vocation!
- Check out this blog overviewing what’s special about this year and how your campus can make the most of it
- Speaker RFPs are now open and calling for you and your colleagues to present a breakout or workshop
- Early bird registration is coming soon!
Annual Events Changing in 2027
We’re excited to announce strategic changes to our annual events to start in 2027: 1) the trustee conference, previously held on its own in the summer, will join the convention and tradeshow in the fall, and 2) launching trustee campus visits for colleges to rotate hosting and showcasing its programming with one-day gatherings.
These changes will maintain current professional development opportunities, increase engagement between college leadership, maximize participation and efficiency by aligning major statewide gatherings, and continue opportunities for trustees to visit colleges for focused tours.
Mark your calendar now for November 10-12, 2027 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The first campus visits will begin in the summer of 2027, more information to come as planning progresses.
New Year-Round Sponsor: Ellucian
Great news: Ellucian is Community Colleges for Iowa’s newest year-round partner! Since you’ll be seeing more of Ellucian, we wanted to give you a quick introduction.
With decades of experience focused exclusively on higher education, Ellucian understands the unique challenges institutions face. Their AI-powered platform drives operational efficiency and strengthens engagement for students, faculty, and staff, with solutions that span the entire student lifecycle.
Contact Patrick Bevilacqua for more details! for more details!
Sharing Student Success
So often do our conversations focus on student success and the stories of students and graduates. People wonder: How are students deciding what area of study they want, which colleges they want to attend, or why go to college at all? As community colleges, we know just how nuanced each student’s journey is. It’s been our pleasure to share a wide range of student experiences, aspirations, and achievements on social media, and now, in our newsletter: a reminder of why we do the work we do.
Meet Hannah: Balancing all it takes to start the career she wants in healthcare.
Take a moment to imagine the rigors of organic chemistry with hands-on work of being a CNA, where becoming a health care provider means knowing the science while having the compassion for patient care. Hannah uses this passion as motivation for organizing peer study groups and setting herself up to be successful in medicine after graduation.
Hannah was recognized for her educational achievements as well as her leadership and work ethic when named to the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society’s 2026 All-Iowa Academic Team. Thanks for all your hard work, Hannah!
News
Northeast Iowa Community College: From Empty Lot to Family Home: The Heart Behind the NICC Building Trades Project
Students in the carpentry and electrical programs at Northeast Iowa Community College got the chance to give back to their community in a big way—housing for those in need. The Building Trades Open House represents nearly a year of hard work and dedication that will end up with a family moving into a brand new home. This “house project” has connected students and the community for nearly 60 years, and is possible through the support of local business partnerships. Read the full article here.
KMA Land (960 AM): Reynolds rejects new rules for Iowa high schoolers taking community college classes
Gov. Reynolds vetoed a bill from the 2026 legislative session which would allow school boards to request parents to reimburse the district if their child fails or drops out of a community college course paid for by the school district. Reynolds said that the new rules would discourage low-income students from taking courses, agreeing with Democrats that it would put undue pressure on students trying to figure out their path to a career. Read the full story here.
Radio Iowa: In AI era, Iowa college leader says focus must remain on students’ critical thinking skills
Northwest Iowa Community College President John Hartog reports that, while AI is influencing education and the workforce, the college’s goal is still to help students develop critical thinking skills along with their education.
“One thing that I hope never changes is that we are preparing graduates who are critical thinkers and by that I don’t that they’re negative per se, but that they are constructively critical,” Hartog said, “that they’re evaluating truth claims and their weighing options and looking at best solutions.”
Shaw Local: How a year at an Iowa community college helped Chicago Bears’ Jordan van den Berg reach the NFL
Linebacker for the Chicago Bears Jordan van den Berg credits his opportunity for the NFL to his time at Iowa Western Community college. Recruiters and coaches share their memories of his development in the IWCC football program, and their pride in his success, citing van den Berg’s incredible work ethic and natural skills, which made him a great fit for the NFL. Read the full story here.
Northeast Iowa Community College: The Backbone of Our Communities: How Local Businesses and NICC Are Building Northeast Iowa’s Future
NICC gathered in appreciation at their second annual “Partners in Excellence” awards ceremony to thank local business and community partners for supporting quality, accessible education. NICC President Dave Dahms said, “Your impact extends beyond scholarships and traditional academic programs,” Dahms noted. “Through continuing education, customized training and short-term workforce programs, we are helping individuals build skills, advance careers and meet the changing needs of industry across our region.” Read the full article here.
Resources
ACCT: New Grant Opportunity for Eligible Community Colleges: The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)
The Association of Community Colleges has announced a new grant opportunity for eligible schools based on Title III/IV. These grants can be used for a broad range of resources that strengthen institutional capacity, including equipment and materials, construction, instructional facility development, and much more. Applicants can get FIVE additional competition points by incorporating work-based learning opportunities; expanding Workforce Pell programs, or for a range of products incorporating AI into education. Read more here.
Tools: Quick Clicks for Quick Information
Here are links to our most in-demand resources:
