This session the House Higher Education Committee was proud to champion reforms to our universities’ core curriculum requirements, and Governor Reynolds has now signed the legislation into law. House File 2800 requires every undergraduate student at Iowa’s public universities to complete dedicated courses in American history and government to graduate.

This improvement is both necessary and urgent. A 2024 national survey by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni exposed shocking gaps in civic knowledge among college students; only 31 percent knew James Madison is the Father of the Constitution, 60 percent could not identify the term lengths for U.S. House members and Senators, just 27 percent correctly identified the Vice President as president of the Senate, only 37 percent could name John Roberts as Chief Justice, fewer than 23 percent recognized Lincoln’s words “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” from the Gettysburg Address, and a mere 28 percent knew the 13th Amendment ended slavery.

These are foundational facts, not trivia. Yet for too long, Iowa’s institutions of higher education have let students satisfy general education requirements with courses far removed from a true liberal arts education. Absurd options for the University of Iowa’s ‘Understanding Cultural Perspectives’ core curriculum requirement, or Iowa State’s ‘US Cultures and Communities’ requirement, include courses such as; ‘Printmaking and the Politics of Protest’, ‘Music and Social Change’, ‘The Science Behind Prejudice’, ‘The Economics of Discrimination’, ‘Identity, Diversity, and the Media’, or even ‘Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion’. Meanwhile, graduates never study the history and tradition of our republic.

Iowa students deserve better. Our nation deserves better. As our country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, HF 2800 ensures Iowa is doing its part. The bill mandates genuine survey courses in American history and government, delivered through dedicated centers such as the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom. Students will now engage in the study of our founding principles instead of ideological electives.

Civic education is not partisan. It equips students to ensure they understand and protect the system that safeguards our rights and freedoms. With HF 2800, Iowa is reaffirming its commitment to strong education by producing not just skilled professionals, but informed citizens ready to uphold the founding principles of our nation as we mark America’s 250th anniversary.

——-

Rep. Taylor Collins, a Republican, lives in Mediapolis and represents Iowa House District 95, which includes all of Louisa County, and large parts of Des Moines, Henry, and Muscatine Counties. Collins is serving his second term in the Iowa House, and chairs the house committee on higher education.