Workforce Alignment at Iowa's Public Universities
On February 27, 2025, Board of Regents President Sherry Bates directed the Board office and the universities to work together on a review of all academic programs and how they fit with high-demand jobs and workforce needs in the state of Iowa.
At the April meeting, Board Office staff will present the review to the Regents. Academic leaders from the universities are working with Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Education to evaluate how academic programs align with the needs of the state’s workforce needs. Representatives use a multitude of data from the universities, Iowa Workforce Development, the US Census Bureau and other sources.
Currently the Board periodically publishes recent alumni career outcomes, including income and student debt figures by program, and other outcomes. The workforce alignment review is an expansion of this effort, and is intended to chart clearer pathways between academic work and workforce participation.
