Iowa State students, along with those at University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa, are receiving a full refund of the $100 tuition surcharge levied earlier for the spring semester.

The total amount refunded to students is around $6 million, thanks to legislation we passed this spring in the Iowa Legislature.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked successfully to win approval of Senate File 2366.

The file restored more than $30 million to the Regents institutions, including more than $10.8 million to Iowa State.

These funds partially offset money lost to the 10 percent across-the-board state budget cut last winter.

In accordance with a prior commitment from the Board of Regents, a portion of that money was to be used to refund the tuition surcharge. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Culver April 15.

The universities are now completing their commitment.

Despite the budget difficulties created by the national recession.

I’ll keep working to make sure lawmakers remember that helping the students

I teach at Iowa State improve their skills and develop their talents is a great way to build a stronger economy.

Herman Quirmbach is a State Senator (D-Ames) and associate professor of economics at Iowa State.