February 5, 2020 Meeting Recap

The Board of Regents met at the Board Office in Urbandale on February 5, 2020. Key items reviewed by committees and the Board are outlined below. Click here for the complete agenda

Bond Sales
The Board approved a pair of bond issuances, including $63.9 million in athletics facilities revenue bonds for Iowa State and $16.5 million in utility system revenue bonds for UNI. Proceeds from the ISU bonds will partially fund the Sports Performance Center and Jack Trice Stadium Improvements North Project, which includes a four-story addition on the east side of the Bergstrom Football Complex, renovations to the north side of the stadium and smaller addition to the west side of Bergstrom. 

Proceeds from UNI’s utility system bonds will be used to fund improvements to the university’s utility system and refund the outstanding balance of master lease financing with Wells Fargo. The board previously approved these projects - dubbed the West Campus Projects - at its September 2019 meeting.

Property and Facilities Committee
The Board gave permission to proceed with project planning for a new wrestling facility at Iowa and the east gateway bridge project at Iowa State. These projects will transform both campuses. Additionally, the UI received permission to name the Finkbine Course Clubhouse the “Nagle Family Clubhouse” in recognition of Mary Lee Nagle Duda and Fritz L. Duda’s leadership gift. Iowa State received permission to rename Music Hall the “Simon Estes Music Hall.”

Personnel Appointments
The Board appointed five individuals to new positions at the University of Iowa, including Harriet Nembhard as the Dean of the College of Engineering, Amy Kristof-Brown as interim dean for the Tippie College of Business and Laura McLeran as interim VP for Student Life.

Academic and Student Affairs Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee and the Campus and Student Affairs Committee held a joint meeting. Three Ph.D. programs were approved for re-opening at the UI, including biochemistry, immunology and microbiology. The annual distance education report showed continued strong growth in the Regents’ online course offerings.

Audit and Compliance Committee
The committee heard a presentation on internal audits and received the external audit report for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for FY2018 and FY 2019.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Committee
The committee received the UIHC presentation, including a faculty presentation by Christopher Adams, professor of internal medicine - endocrinology and metabolism, on mechanisms and treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.

Public Comment
Two speakers spoke to the Board during its public comment period. Both spoke on Iowa State’s chalking policy.