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 7, 2008
Decision on Math & Science Initiative Looms
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If you haven't already done so, now is a critical time to contact your legislator on behalf of UNI and the Math and Science Initiative.
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UNI teacher-training program at stake as adjourment looms
By CHARLOTTE EBY, Courier Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES --- As Iowa lawmakers press ahead this week with approval of parts of the state budget, one major spending initiative for the University of Northern Iowa hangs in the balance.
Gov. Chet Culver has proposed creating the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics center, or STEM center, at the University of Northern Iowa that would train college students to become science and math teachers.
But the $5 million proposal is not yet a part of the spending plan by legislative Democrats, who will focus in the coming days on finalizing spending bills with an eye on adjourning for the year.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said lawmakers will be looking for agreement with Culver on the budget and talks with the governor continue.
"We'd like to do them all if we had the money," McCarthy said of the governor's education proposals. "It's just a question of resources."
McCarthy is hopeful the STEM Center is funded this year, and said they're looking for the dollars to pay for it.
Legislators heard positive economic news Friday, when a state panel of budget experts predicted state revenues would rise $79 million in the current fiscal year.
Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, believes lawmakers should find money for the STEM center. He said the program would help relieve a math and science teacher shortage and improve student performance.
"Our competitiveness and our reputation for education Iowans hold dear, and that is one initiative that I think has universal, broad bipartisan support," Danielson said.
Another STEM Center proponent is Rep. Doris Kelley, D-Waterloo.
Kelley said after lawmakers increased teacher salaries last year, they should now focus on student performance.
"I'm really concerned about the standards. I'm really concerned about whether our children are really prepared to occupy positions that we're going to need in the future," Kelley said.
She also is in favor of requiring students to stay in school until they turn 18 or graduate. That measure, proposed in the House, still remains alive in the waning weeks of the session.