Governor Reynolds Enacts New Law Impacting Aid for Iowa Central Community College

On May 8, 2024, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2405 into law at the Iowa Statehouse. This law changes how state aid is distributed to Iowa's 15 community colleges, including Iowa Central Community College. The signing was attended by Dr. Jesse Ulrich, president of Iowa Central, and Jim Kersten, vice president of external affairs and government relations at the college.

Senate File 2405 introduces a new method for determining state aid distribution. Instead of a fixed formula, community college presidents and CEOs will now draft the aid distribution formula each year. This process requires agreement from at least 10 of the 15 community college leaders. If they cannot agree, the Iowa Department of Education will create a formula.

The law guarantees that each community college will maintain its current funding level as long as the total state allocation does not decrease. Emily Shields, Executive Director of Community Colleges for Iowa, stated that this method allows those most familiar with the colleges to manage funds effectively.

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