Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand released a report Tuesday on college degree requirements in state jobs, arguing that the state should drop the requirement for some positions.
Sand, a Democrat, created the report with Opportunity@Work, a firm that seeks to advance employment opportunities for those with job training outside a traditional four-year college degree. The report identified 28 job titles in state government that could be better served by dropping the college degree requirement, Sand said.
Among those positions are administrative assistants, information technology specialists, nurse specialists and workforce advisers. Some of the positions require a four-year degree, while others say a degree is preferred.
Sand said a significant portion of Iowa workers have training through military service, community college or on-the-job training, making them skilled enough to do the work. But a degree requirement, or the indication that a degree is preferred, turns those potential applicants away, he said.
“That ‘paper ceiling’ stops a lot of really well-qualified people from applying for those jobs or getting those jobs,” Sand said.
Opportunity@Work has performed similar audits in other states. Sand said he reached out to the organization after seeing their work with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
The state Department of Administrative Services manages the job postings and requirements for most state jobs, Sand said, and the department would need to approve any changes to job requirements. He said his office would share the report with the department and request that it change the requirements for the listed job postings.
"We're going to get a broader cross-section of Iowans applying for this work, including a lot of people who are value-focused, practical-focused, who have made those career decisions for those reasons," Sand said.
Download: Sand job report.pdf
The Iowa Department of Transportation's X account was hacked on Tuesday, the agency said.
The account, on the social media site formerly known as Twitter, was briefly being used to promote a cryptocurrency called Renzo. The account's name, profile photo and cover photo had been changed.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Iowa DOT name and photos had been restored on the account. All of the account's posts have been deleted.
"It appears the @IowaDOT X account was compromised overnight. We have reached out to X to regain control. They are working to restore our account as quickly as possible," the DOT said in a news release.
The agency said the hack involved only the X account and no other DOT systems were affected.
In the wake of destructive tornadoes that caused major damage in Minden and Pleasant Hill over the weekend, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Iowans should be on the lookout for "scammers and shady contractors" looking to exploit victims of the natural disaster.
Bird's office said the scammers could present as cleanup, home repair and construction contractors, especially those seeking business door-to-door and asking for payment upfront.
Iowans should check a contractor's reputation and identification, get a written contract, work directly with insurance companies and avoid risky payment methods, Bird's office said.
"Iowans are resilient, but they should not need to fight off scammers while rebuilding their lives," Bird said in a news release. "Before hiring a contractor, take your time, do your research, and protect yourself from falling victim to a storm-chaser scam. My office is always a resource to those who suspect they are being targeted by scammers.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced nearly 500 Iowa businesses and charities will receive full refunds for money lost through misleading mailers.
Bird’s office announced a settlement with Master Marketing Group LLC, which has been conducting business as GA Business Compliance. According to the attorney general’s office, the company misled Iowans in wrongfully believing that as part of the process for forming a new business or charity that they needed to obtain a certificate showing they had registered to do business in the state. GA Business Compliance then charged Iowans $65 for the certificate.
In circumstances where the certificate is actually needed, it can be obtained from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office for $5.
Under the settlement, GA Business Compliance has agreed to issue full refunds to 478 Iowa businesses and charities, totaling nearly $30,000, and pay a $5,000 penalty. The company also is permanently banned from sending mail solicitations to Iowans.
Most Iowans who paid GA Business Compliance by credit card should have already received their full refunds, according to the attorney general’s office. Remaining Iowans will receive a check from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office that will be mailed within the next few weeks.
Iowans who believe they’ve been affected or did not receive their check should contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Office at 888-777-4590.
www.thegazette.com
Sand, a Democrat, created the report with Opportunity@Work, a firm that seeks to advance employment opportunities for those with job training outside a traditional four-year college degree. The report identified 28 job titles in state government that could be better served by dropping the college degree requirement, Sand said.
Among those positions are administrative assistants, information technology specialists, nurse specialists and workforce advisers. Some of the positions require a four-year degree, while others say a degree is preferred.
Sand said a significant portion of Iowa workers have training through military service, community college or on-the-job training, making them skilled enough to do the work. But a degree requirement, or the indication that a degree is preferred, turns those potential applicants away, he said.
“That ‘paper ceiling’ stops a lot of really well-qualified people from applying for those jobs or getting those jobs,” Sand said.
Opportunity@Work has performed similar audits in other states. Sand said he reached out to the organization after seeing their work with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
The state Department of Administrative Services manages the job postings and requirements for most state jobs, Sand said, and the department would need to approve any changes to job requirements. He said his office would share the report with the department and request that it change the requirements for the listed job postings.
"We're going to get a broader cross-section of Iowans applying for this work, including a lot of people who are value-focused, practical-focused, who have made those career decisions for those reasons," Sand said.
Download: Sand job report.pdf
Iowa DOT X account hacked
The Iowa Department of Transportation's X account was hacked on Tuesday, the agency said.
The account, on the social media site formerly known as Twitter, was briefly being used to promote a cryptocurrency called Renzo. The account's name, profile photo and cover photo had been changed.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Iowa DOT name and photos had been restored on the account. All of the account's posts have been deleted.
"It appears the @IowaDOT X account was compromised overnight. We have reached out to X to regain control. They are working to restore our account as quickly as possible," the DOT said in a news release.
The agency said the hack involved only the X account and no other DOT systems were affected.
Iowa Attorney General warns of ‘storm-chaser scams’
In the wake of destructive tornadoes that caused major damage in Minden and Pleasant Hill over the weekend, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Iowans should be on the lookout for "scammers and shady contractors" looking to exploit victims of the natural disaster.
Bird's office said the scammers could present as cleanup, home repair and construction contractors, especially those seeking business door-to-door and asking for payment upfront.
Iowans should check a contractor's reputation and identification, get a written contract, work directly with insurance companies and avoid risky payment methods, Bird's office said.
"Iowans are resilient, but they should not need to fight off scammers while rebuilding their lives," Bird said in a news release. "Before hiring a contractor, take your time, do your research, and protect yourself from falling victim to a storm-chaser scam. My office is always a resource to those who suspect they are being targeted by scammers.”
Iowa AG secures settlement for businesses, charities targeted by a misleading mailer
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced nearly 500 Iowa businesses and charities will receive full refunds for money lost through misleading mailers.
Bird’s office announced a settlement with Master Marketing Group LLC, which has been conducting business as GA Business Compliance. According to the attorney general’s office, the company misled Iowans in wrongfully believing that as part of the process for forming a new business or charity that they needed to obtain a certificate showing they had registered to do business in the state. GA Business Compliance then charged Iowans $65 for the certificate.
In circumstances where the certificate is actually needed, it can be obtained from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office for $5.
Under the settlement, GA Business Compliance has agreed to issue full refunds to 478 Iowa businesses and charities, totaling nearly $30,000, and pay a $5,000 penalty. The company also is permanently banned from sending mail solicitations to Iowans.
Most Iowans who paid GA Business Compliance by credit card should have already received their full refunds, according to the attorney general’s office. Remaining Iowans will receive a check from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office that will be mailed within the next few weeks.
Iowans who believe they’ve been affected or did not receive their check should contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Office at 888-777-4590.
Capitol Notebook: Iowa auditor says state should ax degree requirement for some government jobs
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand released a report Tuesday on college degree requirements in state jobs, arguing that the state should drop the requirement for some positions.
www.thegazette.com
