Iowa regents ask lawmakers for $1M to support student mental health

CEDAR FALLS — Before the Board of Regents approved their appropriations ask of lawmakers for the upcoming session on Thursday, they agreed to add $1 million to the total for student mental health needs.

The board wasn't unanimous, though, on the decision to up its total request from an $8 million increase to $9 million. Regent David Barker, while commending the students for their thoughtful request, suggested that $1 million might be needed elsewhere.

"I think the question will be whether the need here is greater than other needs in the state,“ Barker said. ”There are mental health issues for noncollege students that are as great or that are greater than for college students. And $1 million spent here may be $1 million not spent on other priorities.“

Those comments led to a broader discussion among the nine-member board about its role — given its charge to govern Iowa’s three public universities.

“Regent Barker, I respect what you're saying, we aren't legislators though,” Regent Greta Rouse said. “We are here to advocate for students and the universities. So with all due respect, the legislators can make that determination. But I fully support this motion.”

Barker said Rouse made an “interesting point as to what our fiduciary responsibility is.”

“That’s something I've thought about a lot over the years,” he said. “And I think our fiduciary responsibility is to the taxpayers of Iowa. I mean, we provide oversight over the universities. But our ultimate duty is to the taxpayers of Iowa.”

Despite Barker’s opposition, the rest of the board agreed to up their appropriations request to include the mental health funding ask.

That change kept with the university trend this year of asking only for special-purpose increases — leaving flat the state’s higher education funding at a combined $503.8 million.

This is the first time in recent history the universities have not asked for any general-funding increase after lawmakers last session denied much of the board’s request last year for an additional $30.3 million.

The state last session did up regent funding for the current budget year by $4 million — but the increase largely supported legislative priorities, like $1 million for a new UI Center for Intellectual Freedom and another $1 million for the University of Northern Iowa’s new Center for Civic Education.

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Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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