Iowa Capital Dispatch

The Iowa Capital Dispatch is a hard-hitting, independent news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Dispatch combines state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled commentary. The Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. It retains full editorial independence.

Current Position

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Beat: Higher education at a crossroads

Position:

Higher education is at a crossroads in Iowa, especially the public universities. The budget this year for the three universities is less than what it was 20 years ago, in inflation-adjusted dollars. Tuition is rising and enrollments are dropping. The diversity of the student body has increased but there are fewer international students. This reporter investigates the effects of these trends on higher education quality and access, especially to underserved communities, and the effect on Iowa's workforce and economy.

Reporter: Brooklyn Draisey