Iowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollmentSkip to contentShow You CareStudent of the MonthEveryday FamiliesWorking IowaMemorialsAdvertise With UsCollette ToursSurprise SquadAging UntoldWatch LiveStreaming StudioNewsWeatherVideoSportsOnIowa LiveKCRG 9.2Everyday IowaWe the PeopleConnectYouNewsHomeNewsEveryday IowaIowaNationalI9 InvestigationsOur TownWorking IowaWatch LiveStreaming StudioFirst Alert WeatherRadarWeather NowCityCAMStormNetMap RoomWinterSevere WeatherCancellationsWeather KidsWeather AcademyRiversSportsHawkeyesCyclonesPanthersAthlete Of The WeekBig Ol' FishScoreboardLatest VideosKCRG 9.2Everyday IowaAging UntoldContact UsMeet the TeamAdvertise With UsSubmit a News StoryJobs at KCRGKCRG-TV9 Daily DigestTV ListingsShow You CareSurprise SquadWagner TailsElection ResultsPresidential Election MapIowa Interactive ResultsEveryday FamiliesYouNewsStudent of the MonthContestsSurprise Squad Star-Spangled Sing-OffNextGen TVJob ConnectionCircle CountryLocal News LivePowerNationInvestigateTVWatching Your WalletDigital MarketingGray AI PolicyIowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollmentIt comes after a report found the center must require courses to boost student participationA last minute Republican legislative push could force University of Iowa college students to take classes at the newly-created Center for Intellectual Freedom.By Grace VancePublished: May 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM CDTShareAdd Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on GoogleIOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - University of Iowa students could soon be required to take classes at the Center for Intellectual Freedom — or they won’t be able to graduate.Republican lawmakers added a provision to a massive budget bill during a 35-hour legislative session requiring University of Iowa students to complete at least six credit hours from the center to earn an undergraduate degree. The bill now heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk.Democrats are urging Reynolds to line-item veto the provision.Why was the center created?Iowa Republicans created the Center for Intellectual Freedom to counter what they described as liberal indoctrination on college campuses.Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks even suggested naming it after Charlie Kirk, the assassinated conservative leader.The center opened this spring. The Iowa Board of Regents has allocated $1 million in funding to start the center.Low enrollmentThe nonprofit Common Sense Institute reported student interest and enrollment was low — with just eight students in one class.The report said enrollment is unlikely to grow unless the state mandated students take the classes, which is exactly what Republican lawmakers passed.Democrats push back on costsDemocratic Sen. Janet Petersen slammed that idea, arguing it will drive up costs for Iowa college students and their families.“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,” Sen. Petersen said. “Six hours at the University of Iowa and that comes straight out of student and parent’s checkbooks.”What about Iowa State and UNI?The bill also affects students at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Those students will be required to complete six credit hours in American History and American Government.Those two schools will decide which courses meet this new requirement, which goes into place in July of 2028.Gov. Kim Reynolds has not yet indicated whether she will sign the bill, veto it, or use a line-item veto to strip the provision.Copyright 2026 KCRG. 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Iowa Republican lawmakers have introduced a provision in a budget bill that would mandate University of Iowa students must complete at least six credit hours from the Center for Intellectual Freedom to earn an undergraduate degree. This legislative push follows a report indicating that the center needs to implement measures to increase student participation. The center itself was established by Iowa Republicans with the stated goal of countering what they characterized as liberal indoctrination on college campuses; Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks notably suggested naming it after Charlie Kirk.

The foundation for this mandate is challenged by data regarding the center's actual engagement. The nonprofit Common Sense Institute reported very low student interest and enrollment, citing only eight students in a single class, which led to the conclusion that enrollment is unlikely to grow without state-mandated participation. This creates a point of contention, as Democratic senators, such as Janet Petersen, argue that this requirement will increase the financial burden on families paying for college education, as mandated classes will be drawn from student and parent funds.

The legislative action extends beyond the University of Iowa, as the bill also affects students at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, requiring them to complete six credit hours in American History and American Government. The specific institutions will determine which courses satisfy this new requirement, with the implementation slated for July of 2028. Governor Kim Reynolds has yet to indicate her stance on the provision, as she may sign the bill, veto it, or exercise a line-item veto. The debate centers on the balance between state-level efforts to shape campus intellectual focus and concerns regarding student autonomy and educational costs.