Regents approve tuition increases

Tuition for resident undergraduates will go up $250 this fall instead of $300, in a compromise approved July 18 by the state Board of Regents. Voting on an unusual second round of increases intended to make up for increased state operating support for fiscal year 2017 that was less than 30 percent of what the university requested, the board unanimously adjusted down the increase for resident undergraduates and approved other increases as proposed: $100 for nonresident undergraduates and all graduate students; and $50 for all veterinary medicine students.

The change reduces the estimated tuition revenue growth at Iowa State by $915,000, to approximately $32.6 million. By contrast, the increase in state operating dollars this year is $2.2 million.

Regent Larry McKibben proposed the smaller increase for in-state undergraduates.

"In the comments I received as a regent, there's a lot of concern out there about the increase, but also concern about how we maintain the high quality of the education at our three universities. So you're conflicted about what side you're going to pick," McKibben said.

"Some will say we're not coming down far enough, but I very much support it," he added.

Board president Bruce Rastetter noted that McKibben's proposal was vetted through the three university presidents to see if they could manage their budgets with less tuition revenue. All three told him yes, he said.

Rastetter also pledged changes to the board's tuition-setting process, including asking the Legislature to consider a two-year cycle for higher education appropriations and to conclude the state budget discussion earlier in the session because of its impact on university budgets -- and ultimately Iowa families if tuition rates are reset. Families receive fall tuition bills on Aug. 1, he noted, but plans for paying them begin much earlier.

Tuition adjustments

*Includes $500 incremental tuition (first of three years) for all international students

Leath turns down summer salary increase

Rastetter announced that President Steven Leath and Iowa President Bruce Herreld both asked to forgo a compensation increase on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. The board completed performance evaluations for the two at its June meeting, but Rastetter said, even prior to June, the two presidents indicated they would decline an increase. Leath and Herreld will receive scheduled mid-year evaluations in January 2017; Rastetter said compensation increases would be addressed again then.

Cost of instruction

Every other year since 1969, the state's three public universities have compiled a unit cost of instruction for the state Board of Regents. The most recent data, received by board members this month, is for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015.

The unit cost calculation starts with state operating appropriations to a university (both general university and special purpose appropriations). It equals the total amount of state-supported instructional expenditures divided by the number of fulltime-equivalent students served in different categories.

Costs included in the calculation are those associated with: instruction, research, academic support such as libraries and academic computing, a portion of student health and counseling services, a portion of institutional administrative costs and some building operation/maintenance costs. Costs do not include building repair, public service, scholarships/fellowships, indirect costs, and auxiliary and health care units.

Cost of instruction: FY 2015

More ISU items of business

Other Iowa State items the board approved include:

• The university's 2017-22 strategic plan (PDF). The plan is built around four goals, each of which includes subgoals and metrics for measuring achievement.
• The university's budget for the fiscal year that began July 1
• A new appointment option for nontenure eligible faculty: clinical faculty at the assistant, associate and full professor level. The appointments are expected to be used primarily in the College of Veterinary Medicine (but can be used in any college) and will assist in faculty recruitment. The titles already are in use at a majority of veterinary medicine colleges in North America. The new appointment responds to a need for clinical and diagnostic specialists working mostly in service and teaching roles.
• A new B.S. program in entrepreneurship in the College of Business (transitioning from a track in the management bachelor's degree program). This is the first stand-alone program at an Iowa public university. Drake University offers a major in entrepreneurship.
• Hardware/software purchase and three-year subscription and maintenance contract (total estimated cost of $1.8 million) for a system by Infoblox that will better identify, accommodate and serve the expanding number of internet-capable devices on campus.
• Sale of $23.5 million of bonds to refund in advance $25 million in bonds sold in 2008 to pay for parts of two projects: the veterinary teaching hospital and diagnostic lab and Coover Hall addition/renovation. Lower interest rates today will save the university about $2.5 million.
• Improvements to the Knoll that include: replacing the existing front entry stairs, sidewalks and ADA ramp; adding a sidewalk around the north (garage) side; replacing the current deck with a four-season porch that ties in to the garden room and front entry; and adding a deck to the south side of the garden room. Designated gifts to the ISU Foundation will pay for the improvements, estimated at $525,000.