2023 Iowa legislative session begins next Monday

While UNI's impact stretches to the areas of business, sciences, and community and social services, its tremendous impact on education is undeniable. UNI takes great pride in its position as the top producer of teachers in the state, averaging 450 to 500 graduates each year. UNI's teacher education program is known for both its size — which is in the top one percent of teacher education programs nationally — and its quality, as it provides students with in-depth field experience starting their freshman year and totaling more than 725 hours by the end of student teaching. Almost 90% of UNI-educated teachers remain in Iowa to start their careers as educators.

A UNI education sets students up for success, as nearly 95% of UNI graduates holding bachelor's degrees are either employed or pursuing advanced study within six months of graduation. Graduation rates for UNI students stand at record-high levels. The four-year graduation rate increased by five percent over last year and is nearly 20 percentage points above similar universities. One in 12 UNI students graduate in only three years.

As you know, these success rates can be tied in part to the hands-on learning opportunities students experience including a robust internship program, field experiences and professional part-time jobs. Ninety-two percent of UNI graduates will enter the workforce with at least one of these experiences.

"It's clear that UNI students are set apart from their peers based on what they achieve in the classroom and once they complete their degrees," said UNI President Mark A. Nook. "Our supportive community helps students graduate in a timely fashion, and the hands-on experiences students receive give them valuable skills they will use long after their time at UNI concludes."
 

State appropriations requests for FY 2024

UNI is committed to student success and upholding our public charge to be open and accessible. The FY 2024 state appropriations requests support UNI’s focus on preparing Iowa’s future-ready workforce.

• $4 million to continue our efforts to realign UNI’s sticker price and net cost of tuition and mandatory fees relative to Iowa’s two public research universities, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which will allow us to hold our tuition as close to flat as possible for the 2023-24 academic year.
• $4 million to encourage more students to enter the teaching profession. This initiative will help remove a barrier, the cost of getting a teaching degree. The new appropriation will be used for scholarships and paid student teaching while the student is getting their bachelor’s degree at UNI. We have a strong legacy of providing Iowa’s public and private schools with educators, as our educated teachers are employed in all 99 counties and in 99% of Iowa’s school districts.
• $2 million to expand the successful UNI@IACC (Iowa Community College) partnership to directly support students in four additional community college campuses. UNl@IACC helps realize our vision of providing affordable and high-quality educational opportunities to learners who may not have easy access to a four-year degree due to their location, job or life commitments, but who need the degree and education to succeed in Iowa’s high-demand workforce.
• $400,000 to expand the growing Family Business Center and UNI’s Institute for Decision Making as they play a critical role in supporting Iowa’s family-owned businesses and economic development efforts.
• $1 million, directed to the Board of Regents, for allocation to the three public universities for expanded mental health services.
   

Additional status quo FY 2024 legislative budget requests:

• $6.35 million for STEM education
• $1.1 million for economic development
• $900,000 from the Regents Innovation Fund
• $394,321 for UNI’s additive manufacturing 
• $172,768 for the recycling and reuse center
• $123,523 for real estate education

Please share your UNI story and ask your state senator and state representative to support our funding requests. We are grateful for your willingness to support UNI!