July 28, 2021 Meeting Recap
The Board of Regents met July 28, 2021 in Cedar Falls. Selected items discussed are outlined below.
2021-22 Tuition Rates and Fees
The Board approved tuition rate and fee increases for the 2021-22 academic year. The rates increase resident undergraduate tuition by $283 at the University of Iowa, $282 at Iowa State University and $115 at the University of Northern Iowa. The increase comes after last year’s tuition freeze in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and follows no increase in appropriations from the Iowa General Assembly.
Related: 2021-22 Tuition and Fee Rates
FY 2022 Budgets
The Regents approved budgets for the three universities, two special education entities, Iowa Public Radio and the Board Office. Each university budget was higher than their pandemic-suppressed FY 21 budgets, but below FY 2020 actuals.
UIHC Employee Success Sharing
To address financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, many UIHC staff were required to take two weeks unpaid leave, give back 100 hours of vacation, or select a combination of the two. Staff making less than $50,000 per year were held to half this requirement. As the fiscal year closes, UIHC is in a stable financial position, partially due to these staff sacrifices. The Board approved lump-sum bonuses to all UIHC employees to be paid out September 1, 2021.
Community College Transfer
The Board received an update on efforts to ease transfer pathways between the Regent Universities and Iowa Community Colleges.
Related Video: Transferring In Iowa
Name, Image, and Likeness
The Board received an update on institutional efforts to educate students-athletes regarding their name, image, and likeness rights in the wake of the NCAA decision to suspend its rules regarding NIL.
Related: NIL at Iowa's Public Universities
Academic Affairs Committee
The Board received an update on its CashCourse financial literacy training course, first implemented for new undergraduate students during the 2017-18 academic year. Iowa and ISU requested new graduate-level programs in sustainable development and healthcare analytics and operations, respectively.
Property and Facilities Committee
The University of Iowa received approval for three UIHC expansion projects, while Iowa State received permission to proceed with project planning for its Gilman Hall renovation project. UI received approval for the naming of Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Slater played tackle for the Hawkeyes from 1918-21, was the first Black player inducted to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1951 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2020 Centennial Class.
Bond Sales
The Board approved the sale of more than $261 million in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Revenue and Refunding bonds.