Parking rates, video/sound purchase requests go to regents next week

Parking permit increases, election of a president and several Iowa State building projects are on the agenda when the state Board of Regents meets Wednesday, Feb. 28, at its Urbandale office. The agenda is online and all open sessions of the meeting will be livestreamed on the board website.

As proposed, employee parking permits will go up 3% ($2-$32 increases) on July 1. The additional revenue would be used to upgrade or maintain existing lots and upgrade equipment to provide better services. No changes are proposed to fines for parking violations.

Permits for the ramp at the Memorial Union, which is managed by the MU, not the parking office, also would go up about 3%, as proposed.

*also residence, Ames Lab permits

DEI directives

The board will vote on revisions to the Board of Regents Policy Manual as part of the process of implementing several of the 10 board directives that resulted from its eight-month review of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and offices at the three universities. Directives 4a, 4b, 5, 7 and 10 would add language to the manual's chapters on admission requirements and freedom of expression.

Board members also must elect a president to complete the leadership term of board member Michael Richards, who stepped down as president in January. The term expires April 30; president pro-tem Sherry Bates is serving as interim board president.

Building projects

University leaders will ask for permission to begin planning on two construction projects, using the construction manager at risk (CMR) project method, which shifts risk for staying on budget and on time to the CMR per a signed contract:

• A series of additions, totaling about 17,000 square feet in three phases, to the large animal wing of the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center to expand reproductive services, primarily for horses, and equine sports medicine services, in response to the growing equine industry in Iowa. The estimated $12 million project budget would be covered by private gifts and university funds.
• Two research facilities for aerospace engineering professor Partha Sarkar's team to study the impact of tornadoes, derechos and other severe downbursts of wind. As proposed, the first facility (phase 1) would be a prototype, approximately 1/20 the size of the second and built inside the west end of Howe Hall. Phase 2 would be a full-scale building, location not yet determined, up to 500 feet long and large enough to test structures bigger than a family home. National Science Foundation grants would cover the estimated $83 million-$94 million costs of the two phases.

The athletics department will seek board permission to replace the sound systems and all video displays at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum during the time window of fall 2024 to fall 2025. The project also includes replacing the video board at the Lied Recreation Center, site of indoor track and field competitions, and video boards and sound system at the Cyclone Sports Complex, home to Cyclone soccer, softball and outdoor track and field. As proposed, the estimated $16 million cost would be financed through the regents' master lease program (First American Bank) and repaid with athletics department revenue and gifts over 10 years. Video components would be purchased from Daktronics, sound system components from One Diversified.

The board also will review an Iowa State request to issue an estimated $12.8 million in ISU Facilities Corp revenue bonds to pay to renovate the east end of the ground and first floors in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center for a flexible event space with renovated restrooms and new food and beverage service areas. The project, which the board approved in September, also will upgrade the mechanical and electrical systems. Construction could begin this spring and continue through summer 2025.

Final hurdle for new master's degree

University leaders will seek final permission for a new Master of Applied Statistics in the statistics department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The 30-credit program would be offered as an online program and:

• Emphasizes practical applications and experiences with current methodologies.
• Includes a course on statistical consulting, communication skills and ethical issues.
• Provides two credits for experiential learning.

Annual reports, presentations

Also, during the day, the board will receive these reports (information sharing; board action not required except to receive the report):

Academic affairs committee (10:30 a.m.)

• Annual distance education report, board staff
• Presentation: Meeting workforce needs through microcredentials and certificates, associate provosts at the three universities
• Discussion: Approaches to monitoring and addressing academic integrity, provosts at the three universities

Free speech and student affairs committee (11:30 a.m.)

• Annual student financial aid report, board staff

Full board (2:35 p.m.)

• Annual residence system report, residence directors at the three universities
• Administrative efficiency at the regent universities, board staff
• Annual graduation and retention report, board staff