Iowa regents considering new tactic in state relations for UNI

IOWA CITY — In the last session, Iowa’s Republican-led Legislature passed a measure barring its public universities from any new spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and training. It considered bills to ban tenure, block the universities from barring weapons on campus, and mandate the universities cover the entirety of athletics-related settlements.

Regarding funding, lawmakers denied in full the Board of Regents’ request for a $32 million increase in general education appropriations — divvying up, instead, a $7.1 million bump between three specific initiatives across the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa campuses.

“The regents track between 500 and 600 pieces of legislation annually, ranging from higher education issues to employee insurance coverage,” according to the board, which in the 2023 budget year got 31 percent of its general education funding from the Legislature.

All that makes “state relations” a preeminent concern for Iowa’s public university system, compelling the regents to try something new. With the recent retirement of UNI’s state relations officer Mary Braun, the board is looking to hire a firm — instead of just one person — to replace her.

“With a staff member’s retirement, this allowed the board to look at an alternative method of providing state relations services for UNI,” regents spokesman Josh Lehman said. “A firm is a new way to approach this.”

The chosen firm would provide the same services as its state relations officers, Lehman said. According to a request for qualifications the board issued June 1 and closed July 7, those services include:

Five firms responded to the board’s request for state relations services, although the board hasn’t yet hired one.

“We are currently evaluating proposals,” Lehman said. “If the board proceeds, it would be for one year and then the future of the arrangement would be reviewed at that time.”

Prospective firms submitted 14 questions in preparing their responses — including one requesting the process the board currently uses to identify bills of interest and declare support or opposition.

“The state relations officers, as well as numerous board office staff, review the daily bill packet to determine bills of interest,” according to the board’s answer. “The decision to declare on legislation is determined by the executive director.”

State relations officers also coordinate with and report to Board of Regents Executive Director Mark Braun, who has no relation to retired UNI state relations officer Mary Braun.

“The Board of Regents determines state relations policy and strategy,” according to the board. “The executive director manages it on behalf of the board.”

Should the board decide to hire a firm to replace Mary Braun, the board’s three other state relations officers will remain on staff, Lehman said.

Mary Braun’s 2022 salary for representing UNI was $139,447.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com