The bill, known as the Removing Education Access Challenges in Higher Education (REACH) Act, authorizes community colleges in Iowa to offer baccalaureate degree programs. It amends existing law to include a new subsection that allows these institutions to provide degree programs that lead to baccalaureate degrees, provided they meet specific criteria. These criteria include addressing high-demand workforce needs in the community and ensuring that instruction is not delivered entirely online. The bill also modifies the definition of community colleges to reflect this new capability and establishes the requirement for the state board of education to adopt rules for the oversight of such programs.

Additionally, the bill outlines tuition regulations for residents and nonresidents of Iowa. Tuition for residents enrolled in baccalaureate programs cannot exceed 150 percent of the tuition charged for traditional community college courses. The legislation also empowers community college boards to establish or modify policies, seek necessary accreditations, and hire staff to implement these degree programs. Overall, the REACH Act aims to enhance educational access and workforce development in Iowa by expanding the role of community colleges.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 260C.1, 260C.2, 260C.4, 260C.14, 261E.6