April 22-23, 2026 Meeting Recap
The Iowa Board of Regents met April 22-23, 2026 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center in Ames. Selected items discussed are outlined below.
2026-27 Tuition and Fees VIDEO
To comply with House File 440 (2025), which requires the Board of Regents to set tuition by April 30, the Board passed 2026-27 Tuition and Fee rates this week. The approved rates increase resident undergraduate tuition by 3% at all three universities. The Board also approved varying tuition rates for non-resident, graduate and professional students as well as differential rates for certain higher cost programs.
Board Leadership Elections VIDEO
President Robert Cramer and President Pro Tem Kurt Tjaden were re-elected as Board leadership. Cramer and Tjaden were initially elected last December to fill the expiring terms of President Sherry Bates and President Pro Tem Greta Rouse. Cramer and Tjaden’s terms as Board Leadership begin May 1, 2026 and end April 30, 2028.
Farewell Regent Risewick VIDEO
The meeting served as Regent JC Risewick’s final as a member of the Board. Risewick was appointed in 2022 and reappointed in 2025. He chaired the Property and Facilities Committee and was co-chair of the ISU Presidential Search Committee that hired ISU President David Cook last year.
Academic Affairs Committee VIDEO
Numerous program terminations at UNI and UI highlighted the Academic Affairs Committee docket. The cuts stemmed from low enrollment, reduced applications and limited long-term viability of the programs. Additionally, Provost Jason Keith presented Iowa State’s program review, which identified a number of low-enrollment programs.
Read more on program changes at Iowa’s public universities
Student Financial Aid Report VIDEO
Associate Chief Academic Officer Jason Pontius presented the annual student financial aid report. Pontius reported institutional aid awarded to students is at record highs.
More on the annual student financial aid report
Salary Policies VIDEO
Each year, representatives from groups of faculty and staff who are not organized for the purpose of collective bargaining are invited to make presentations or submit written remarks on salary policies to the Board of Regents. The Board considers these remarks when implementing salary policies for the following fiscal years. Presenters included Craig Just, UI Faculty Senate President; Neda Barrett, UI Staff Council President; Meghan Gillette, ISU Faculty Senate President; Jennifer Schroeder, ISU Professional and Scientific Council President; and Nathan Arndt, UNI Professional and Scientific Council President
Governance, Evaluation and Human Resources Committee VIDEO
The committee heard a first reading of several policy manual updates, including updates regarding human resources, the Board Office Ombudsman, property and facilities procedures, admissions requirements, academic program review and tuition and fees. Final action is scheduled for the June meeting.
Property and Facilities Committee VIDEO
The committee approved both the UI and ISU registers of capital improvement business transactions, which included two UI Health Care projects and an update to ISU’s power plant. In addition, the committee approved a UI property purchase and UNI’s request to raze a house on campus.
Faculty Presentation VIDEO
Jason Henderson, Vice President of the ISU Extension and Outreach presented on Extension and Outreach efforts across all 99 Iowa counties
Audit and Compliance Committee VIDEO
Chief Audit Executive Chad Sharp and Deputy Auditor of State Brian Brustkern presented internal audits and state audits to the Committee.
Investment and Finance Committee VIDEO
The committee received an update on the REAPS initiative from Chair Tjaden and an update on FY 2027 Budgeting progress from Board Chief Business Officer Kent Farver.
UI Health Care Committee VIDEO
The committee received the UIHC presentation from VP for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Carver College of Medicine Denise Jamieson, Associate VP of UI Health Care and UIHC CEO Bradley Haws, and Associate VP for Finance and UIHC CFO Mark Henrichs.
Public Comment VIDEO
Two presenters spoke to the Board on a variety of topics:
- Christopher Martin, UNI faculty
- Annemarie Butler, ISU faculty