UNI Legislative Update
The Office of Governmental Relations provides legislative updates to the campus community through online communication and bimonthly campus presentations. These updates will inform faculty, staff and students of hot topics facing the legislature and legislative actions affecting UNI and the Regents institutions.
April 19, 2008
Culver signs UNI program into law
By CHARLOTTE EBY, Courier Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES --- The University of Northern Iowa will see a new effort to research teaching practices and share them with the rest of the state after Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation creating the program Friday.
The program will help train educators and focus on practical research to meet the needs of Iowa schools. It expands UNI's Price Laboratory School to become the State of Iowa Research, Development, Demonstration and Dissemination School.
"Today, with my signature, the state of Iowa takes another great leap forward towards innovation in public education," Culver said at the bill signing.
The bill he signed, Senate File 2307, lays the groundwork for what Culver called a "world-class" research school at UNI. He said the school will help teachers meet the challenging needs of Iowa's education system.
The Iowa House approved the legislation unanimously, and the Senate approved it on a 40-7 vote.
UNI President Benjamin Allen said the university has the largest teacher preparation program in the state and a history of research in teacher innovation.
"This is something that's very special to the University of Northern Iowa, but it will serve the entire state," Allen said of the program.
Friday, Culver also renewed his call for creating another teaching initiative at UNI.
Culver has proposed spending $5 million to create a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM center, at UNI to train science and math teachers.
Lawmakers have not yet approved the request, which remains tied up in budget negotiations with Culver.
Culver said the STEM center would help increase the number of math and science teachers graduating from the state's Regents universities.
"I once again today ask the members of the Legislature to get this bill to my desk for my signature before adjournment," said Culver, who taught high school before he began his political career.