University of Iowa students must take a course through the contentious Center for Intellectual Freedom to graduate beginning in 2028 under a law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The signing comes as the center struggled with low enrollment in its first group of course offerings this spring.
The new mandate Roberts signed into law was tucked into the 34-page standings bill Iowa lawmakers passed at the end of a 34-hour legislative marathon in May.
Under the measure, House File 2800, students enrolled at one of Iowa’s three public universities must take one three-credit introductory American history course and a three-credit American government course, beginning in the 2028-29 school year.
The two courses will count toward fulfilling a student’s general education requirements. Each one will be three hours long.
It also says the Center for Intellectual Freedom “shall be the sole academic unit at the state University of Iowa responsible for offering courses that satisfy the requirements of this section.”
The center, established by Iowa lawmakers in 2025, is part of a Republican push to expand civics education at the state’s public universities. GOP lawmakers contend the center will help balance out what they view as overwhelmingly liberal viewpoints at institutions of higher education.
Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, who chairs the Iowa House Higher Education Committee and pushed for the center’s establishment, said he looks forward to working with the Board of Regents to implement the changes.
“Our message is simple — the status quo in higher education is over. Iowa will now have a core curriculum that brings the focus back to a true liberal arts education,” Collins said in a statement. “Instead of absurd courses in magic or witchcraft, Iowa students will now get back to the basics — understanding the core pillars of our great nation.”
Critics argue the center represents an attempt to spread conservative viewpoints for college credit.
Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said the new requirement will force students and families to pay for courses they are not interested in.
“We saw that no students really wanted to participate in that program, but this legislation will require families who are paying for college education for their kids, which is not cheap, that they would be forced to take these freedom classes, six hours at the University of Iowa,” Petersen said during final debate on the bill May 3. “I hate to see that.”
The Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State University and the Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa will designate the equivalent courses for their students.
What has the Center for Intellectual Freedom done in its first year?
Along with launching the Center for Intellectual Freedom, Iowa state lawmakers have also appropriated $2 million for the center over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to hire faculty, host events, and promote the department.
The center is the first civics-focused program in Iowa mandated by legislative action. It is overseen by the Board of Regents, which is tasked with overseeing the center’s mission, staffing and budget.
Classes began in March after being delayed, but saw low enrollment with only 21 of 64 available seats filled. Two students dropped one of the courses by the second week.
The Center for Intellectual Freedom is staffed by its interim director, UI economics professor Luciano I. de Castro, and does not yet offer certificates or majors.
The center’s launch was kicked off with a keynote address by Christopher Rufo, a Manhattan Institute for Policy Research fellow, who said the center’s establishment will “reorient the university to the highest good” and put an end “to left-wing ideological domination.”
Some of the guest lecturers include Fareway’s Reynolds Cramer on April 14 and Emory University English Professor Emeritus Mark Bauerlein on April 9.
Jessica Rish of the Iowa Press Citizen contributed to this report.
Rapid Response Politics Reporter Maya Marchel Hoff can be reached at mmarchelHoff@usatodayco.com. You can find her on X (formerly Twitter) at @mmarchelhoff.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa law forces university students into new civics courses to graduate
Reporting by Maya Marchel Hoff, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Maya Marchel Hoff, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
