South Iowa News

The Iowa State Board of Regents has approved Gov. Kim Reynolds' $638.6 million state funding plan, which grants $22 million more in funding next fiscal year to three public universities in the state.

As part of the plan, Iowa State University is set to receive $7 million more in funding, while the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa are both set to receive an additional $4 million.

“To maximize benefits to Iowans and other citizens, the Board of Regents advocates for adequate support for Regent institutions from all sources for high quality educational opportunities accessible to Iowans, research and scholarship, service activities and economic development efforts,” the Iowa Board of Regents said in a press release.

Data shows Iowa State officials are planning to use the added funds to further goals that include improving success and affordability for students, retaining faculty and staff and expanding online learning.

"It's imperative that the Iowa Legislature increase its investment in Iowa State University," ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said, according to the Ames Tribune reports. "Without an increase in state support, we will continue to be challenged to retain our excellent faculty and staff with competitive salaries."

At Iowa, officials said the increased funds would be used to hire and retain mental health professionals on campus, provide financial and support services for qualified Iowa residents working toward degrees in such high-demand fields as computer science, teaching.

"Nearly 30% of our general education fund is comprised of state support; we couldn't do what we do without it," University of Iowa President Barb Wilson said, Ames Tribune reported. "We want to make sure that, if we're asking for an increase, that it's really targeted toward the things that will help the state of Iowa."

At Northern Iowa, authorities said the added revenues would be used to lessen tuition and fee costs for students, keep tuition flat for the 2022-23 academic year and continue to improve four-year graduation rate.

In pointing out to the Ames Tribune that somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% of the university’s enrollment comes from local students, UNI President Mark Nook added, "it's important that we provide access to those students and be able to do so at a price that makes obtaining a higher education possible."