November 15-16, 2023 Meeting Recap

The Board of Regents met November 15-16, 2023 in Cedar Falls. Selected items discussed are outlined below. View the full agenda here.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Study Group  VIDEO
The Board discussed the DEI Study Group’s report, and approved 10 directives, with one amendment. Directives 3-7 and 10 passed as a group, with directives one, two, eight and nine passing by separate votes after discussion. Directive nine was amended to change the word "develop" to "explore". The DEI Study Group met over the summer to study DEI programs and efforts at the three institutions. The 10 approved directives were divided into four broad categories: current structure of DEI and compliance functions, human resources, academic and curricular matters, and free speech and related matters.

Read More: Board of Regents to Consider DEI Study Group Recommendations

Fall Enrollment Report  VIDEO
Associate Chief Academic Officer Jason Pontius presented the annual fall enrollment report. Pontius reported that total student enrollment at Iowa’s public universities increased by 302 students from Fall 2022. Pontius noted that the expected “enrollment cliff” – the anticipated drop in enrollment due to low birth rates during the Great Recession – will likely affect Iowa less severely than other states. 

Read More: Annual Fall Enrollment Report

Economic Development and Technology Transfer Report  VIDEO
The Board received the annual economic development and technology transfer reports, which detail how Iowa’s public universities collaborate with business and industry and with each other to foster success for all economic development and entrepreneurship efforts in Iowa.

Free Speech and Campus Affairs Committee  VIDEO
The committee accepted the annual report on campus safety and security from institutional police chiefs. 

Academic Affairs Committee  VIDEO
The committee approved the biennial faculty activities report, FY 2023 professional development reports and FY 2025 professional development requests. Additionally, the committee approved University of Iowa requests to confer honorary degrees to alum William Frank Decker and sculptor Charles Ray. Finally, the committee approved UNI’s request to name its college of business in honor of alum David W. Wilson, who donated $25 million to the college.

Read More: A New Name for UNI’s College of Business

Property and Facilities Committee  VIDEO
The committee approved capital improvement business transactions at all three universities. Projects included a new wrestling practice facility at UNI, CyTown infrastructure improvements at Iowa State and residence hall and UIHC renovations at the University of Iowa. In addition, the committee approved UNI’s request to raze the West Gym.

Public Comment  VIDEO
Eight speakers presented to the Board on a variety of topics:

• Michael Flatte - UI Faculty, spoke on proposed plans to remodel University of Iowa Computer Science facilities
• Olivia Garcia, Iowa State student, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Angela Davidson, UNI student, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Sam Zimmerman, UNI student, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Archer Trip, UNI student, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Keenan Crow, UNI alum, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Nicole Trip, UNI student, spoke on the DEI Study Group's recommendations
• Randal Meyer, UNI alum, spoke on the UNI West Gym and proposed Wrestling practice facility

Governance, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee  VIDEO
The committee approved the ISU proposal for a three-year Custom Education Services Incentive Plan (CESIP) for all tenured/tenure-track and term faculty in the Ivy College of Business.

Investment and Finance Committee  VIDEO
Doug Oest and Dave Smith from Marquette Associates Inc., the Board’s investment advisor, presented the quarterly investment report. In addition, institutional financial officers presented the annual comprehensive fiscal report.  

Audit and Compliance Committee  VIDEO
Board Chief Audit Executive Deb Johnston presented internal audits and the UIHC audit reports. Representatives from Baker Tilly presented audit findings on the construction of the new North Liberty hospital. 

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Committee  VIDEO
The committee received the UIHC presentation from VP for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Carver College of Medicine Denise Jamieson, Interim Associate VP of UI Health Care and UIHC CEO Kim Hunter, and Interim Associate VP for Finance and UIHC CFO Mark Henrichs. 

Faculty Presentation – Public Art  VIDEO
Elizabeth Sutton, Head of the UNI Department of Art, Dan Perry, coordinator of the Public Art Incubator and Amelia Gotera, BFA student, presented their work on the UNI Public Art Incubator, which provides technical resources to assist emerging and professional artists. 

Strategic Plan Updates  VIDEO
University officials provided the Board with updates on their respective strategic plans.