September 18-19, 2019 Meeting Recap
The Board of Regents met at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs September 18-19, 2019. Key items reviewed by committees and the Board are outlined below.
FY 2021 State Appropriations Request
The Board requested $642.37 million in state appropriations for FY 2021, including $18 million in incremental funding for the higher education general university fund. This incremental funding request - $7 million for the University of Iowa, $7 million for Iowa State University and $4 million for the University of Northern Iowa - will support efforts to shorten time to graduation, provide student financial aid, support efforts to close retention and graduation achievement gaps for underrepresented and first generation students, and other student success initiatives.
Related: FY 2021 Appropriations Request - A Rundown
Live Video Streaming
The September meeting served as the Board’s official move to live video streaming for every in-person, regularly scheduled meeting. Meetings will be streamed on the Board’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/iowaregents
Academic Affairs Committee
ISU requested two new programs, including a bachelor’s in business analytics and a master of athletic training degree. The UI also requested two new programs: a bachelor of screenwriting arts and a master of public affairs degree. Additionally, the Board voted to discontinue the Regents Common Application Portal following three years of low usage.
Campus and Student Affairs Committee
The committee received a report on “The Developmental Impact of Deafness.” The presentation noted that language deprivation is a common problem for children born deaf or hard of hearing and that the ISD campus is an excellent setting for those children.
Related: ISD - Embracing Deaf Culture
Investment and Finance Committee
Marquette Associates provided an overview of the Board’s investment and cash management report for the second quarter of 2019. Marquette also provided its annual review of the Regent endowment portfolios compared to their peer groups.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Committee
UI Vice President for Medical Affairs Brooks Jackson, CEO Suresh Gunasekaran, and CFO Bradley Haws presented the UIHC overview. The Board authorized University of Iowa Health Care to transfer up to an additional $25 million to the University of Iowa Health System to support clinical, academic and research programs of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Finally, the Board approved amendments to the UIHC bylaws.
Audit and Compliance Committee
Deputy Auditor of State Marlys Gaston and Financial Audit Division Director Ernie Ruben presented state audits and discussed their office’s audit plan for FY 2019. Board of Regents Chief Audit Executive Patrice Sayre presented the internal audits for 2019 and the 2020 internal audit plans.
Property and Facilities Committee
The universities and special schools presented their annual facilities report for 2019, which included their five-year capital plans, the facilities governance report and the five-year institutional roads program. The UI capital request includes $88.7 million over five years for Pentacrest Modernization, while ISU has requested $30 million over three years to replace LeBaron Hall. UNI has requested money to modernize its industrial technology center and learning commons.
The Board accepted a home and quarter-acre lot on Iowa City’s East Court Street on behalf of the University of Iowa. The home, next door to the history Grand Wood house, will be added to the university’s Grant Wood Art Colony Program.
Related: The Grant Wood Art Colony
Iowa Public Radio Board Appointments
The Board appointed five new members to the Iowa Public Radio Board. They are: Katherine Byers, founder and CEO of HomeDitty, a web based software built for house concert hosts; Lijun Chadima, co-owner of Thorland Company; Nora Everett, former lawyer for Principal Financial Group; Warren Madden, former senior vice president for business and finance at ISU; and Jacy Johnson, interim executive director of ISU strategic relations and communications.