According to the Associate Press, Republican lawmakers in Iowa want to cut paid research leaves for the state’s three public universities (Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa Universities). Kraig Paulsen, newly elected Speaker for the Iowa House Republicans, claims that taxpayers cannot afford faculty sabbaticals. Professors are saying that the savings Republicans hope to see won’t be significant, that cutting sabbaticals will adversely affect the schools’ ability to acquire grant money.

According to the American Association of University Professors, several schools have begun cutting sabbaticals and Iowa, in the last two years, has already cut half of its sabbaticals. What makes this current round of proposed sabbaticals unusual is the presence of lawmakers. John Curtis, director of research and public policy for AAUP, says this is the first time he’s seen lawmakers cut sabbaticals instead of schools themselves.

Currently, the University of Iowa is pushing its board of regents to approve fifty-eight sabbaticals, a slight increase after the cuts from recent years. In 2009, UI professors wrote 26 books, published 147 research articles, created and improved almost 100 courses, and submitted 50 grant applications—this according to Faculty Senate President, Edwin Dove.