Iowa’s new university civics center faces enrollment struggles, echoing WVU program

Iowa taxpayers may want to keep a close eye on a new academic center at the University of Iowa that was mandated by state lawmakers to combat woke ideology. Early signs from a similar program in West Virginia suggest that low enrollment and questions about the use of public funds could become a problem.

At West Virginia University, only one student has registered for courses at the new Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship, a program that Republican lawmakers mandated and funded with $3 million in state dollars over the last two years. The center is set to open this fall.

Erik Herron, a political science professor at WVU, questioned whether the program is the best use of taxpayer money. “I do think that it’s important for the Legislature and for the governor to reflect on this,” he said. “There is a question about whether or not this is the best use of public funds.”

Herron added that the center “seems to be exactly what it complains that higher education has become. It was created in Charleston, and it was imposed on the university, so it’s a big government mandate.”

Why enrollment is so low

West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, a Republican who co-sponsored the 2025 legislation creating the Washington Center, said the low enrollment was expected. The university has not yet approved Washington Center courses to count toward existing academic majors, which limits student interest.

“I’m not necessarily surprised that enrollment hasn’t begun to tick up,” Hanshaw said. “It’s not part of what a student is majoring in or minoring in, then the students have to take courses that do fit those approved parameters.”

He explained that there is a process for getting courses approved and integrated into the academic structure. “I think what we have here is an administrative process where the program just isn’t stood up yet,” he said.

Del. John Williams, a Democrat from Monongalia who opposed the mandate, expressed frustration. “I’m not happy about it,” he said. “Now we’re in a position where we’ve allocated so much money towards this program, and only one person is taking advantage of it.”

Iowa’s similar center and its challenges

Iowa lawmakers have also mandated a similar center at the University of Iowa. The Center for Intellectual Freedom was created to combat lagging enrollment in civics education and to push back against what some see as progressive bias on campus. Starting in 2028, students at the University of Iowa will be required to take a course through the center.

But early signs are not encouraging. Enrollment in Iowa’s program has also been low, mirroring the struggles in West Virginia. Herron noted that “the difficulties these centers are facing in terms of enrollment suggests that students aren’t clamoring for what they’re offering.”

Republican lawmakers in Ohio have also mandated a similar academic center at their flagship university, with similarly low enrollment.

Political debate over funding and priorities

The Washington Center’s creation followed a $45 million budget shortfall at WVU that led to the elimination of 28 academic majors and hundreds of jobs, including faculty positions. Sen. Tom Takubo, a Republican from Kanawha who voted against the legislation, said he was concerned about the timing.

“My concern was not that I was against the premise of having something like this, and what it was trying to teach, but at a time when the university was having to make significant important cuts, like it was cutting out foreign languages,” Takubo said.

Williams, who lives in Morgantown, said the area is “still living with feelings of what happened a few years ago.” He added, “We still haven’t seen the full effects of what happened, so it’s frustrating when state government, since I’ve been in the Legislature, is so unwilling to make a meaningful investment in higher education, and then they come around with this pet project that we now see has one enrollee.”

Supporters see long-term value

Supporters of the center argue that it is a necessary step to restore traditional values in higher education. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who appointed Dr. Patrick Lee Miller as the center’s director at an annual salary of more than $300,000, said the center will “push back on the woke ideology that has infected our schools and help return higher education to its true purpose.”

Hanshaw emphasized the importance of cultivating leaders. “One of the real challenges we have at the level of the government or at the level of society, is cultivating leaders,” he said. “If we can provide a forum for students to spend a few years or a few courses thinking deeply about what it means to lead others in the tradition of Western society, then I think that serves us all well.”

Sen. Mike Oliverio, a Republican from Monongalia, said he was excited about the opportunity for civics education. “At the end of the day, I was excited when the Legislature wanted to send $1.5 million additional dollars to my alma mater,” he said. “I was excited about the opportunity of civics education, an area that I think only strengthens our republic.”

Oliverio believes enrollment will pick up once Washington Center courses can count toward a major or minor. “These classes are not required by any major, so students may be interested in the subject, but they may choose another class over these that is required for them to be able to complete their degree on time,” he said. “A minor in statesmanship, that might drive more participation.”

What this means for Iowa

For Iowa taxpayers and parents, the experience in West Virginia offers a cautionary tale. The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is still in its early stages, but if it follows the same path, it could face similar enrollment challenges and questions about the use of public funds.

Herron suggested that a specialized academic center encouraging civics education could be beneficial if done properly. “I would love to see our students have the kinds of opportunities to interact with politicians with people from the business community in kind of public forums as local residential fellows for a short period of time, to have opportunities for internships that these kinds of programs provide,” he said. “I don’t know that that fits the plan of the Washington Center, but there are centers on public and private campuses that do these sorts of things, and to great effect.”

As Iowa lawmakers and university officials work to implement the Center for Intellectual Freedom, they will need to address these concerns to ensure that the program delivers on its promise without wasting taxpayer dollars.