–All three of the legislators who represent Kossuth County in Des Moines support legislation that would allow Iowa’s community colleges to offer 4-year-degree programs. Representative John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says the idea has a tremendous upside.
A bill currently in the Iowa House would allow community colleges to offer a 4-year-degree program if they are more than 50 miles away from the main campus of a public or private four-year college. The programs must lead to jobs in high-demand fields that have unmet workforce needs.
Leaders at some of Iowa’s private colleges and universities have pushed back against the idea, saying the idea could threaten enrollment at these institutions, many of which are in rural communities where they provide high wages and good benefits. Wills believes this wouldn’t be the case.
Wills made his comments during a legislative forum Saturday morning at the Algona Public Library. State Senator Dave Rowley and Representative Henry Stone also voiced their support for the idea during Saturday’s event.
