Higher Ed

“That would be a really cool discovery by itself,” University of Iowa planetary geologist Valerie Payre said. “That would mean we might not be alone in the solar system or even the universe.”

The state of Iowa has both a need and an opportunity to start offering four-year bachelor’s degrees across its 15 community colleges — like those offered on its public and private college and university campuses, according to a final investigative report that lawmakers commissioned over the summer.

In less than two weeks after University of Iowa Health Care on Aug. 29 notified 211,000-some people that their personal information might have been compromised in a data-breach incident, at least eight of those affected filed separate class-action lawsuits seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Days before Iowa’s Board of Regents met in closed session to discuss comments some university employees made on social media about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death, Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote a letter urging the regents to terminate “public employees who make public comments condoning the murder of a person expressing political views.”

A 12-member search committee charged with identifying Iowa State University’s next president is scheduled to meet next week to discuss in closed session the 78 prospects who applied.

A week after the Board of Regents met for three and a half hours in closed session to discuss university employees who made inflammatory social media posts about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, at least one ISU employee no longer is employed with the institution.

Eight weeks after the University of Iowa placed on paid administrative leave two employees seen in undercover videos discussing the campus’ compliance with state DEI laws — including one who said the university was “finding ways to operate around it” — the investigation continues.

The University of Iowa, for the first time since being included in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual best college rankings in 2004, has fallen out of the top 100 universities nationally, dropping four spots from No. 98 last year to No. 102.

The Gazette presents our College Guide for 2025-26.

Although the need for an expansive new University of Iowa inpatient tower that’s 50-percent bigger than its 14-story Children’s Hospital hasn’t changed, the federal funding landscape has, officials told the Board of Regents this week.

The Board of Regents wasn't unanimous in its decision to request $1 million for student mental health. Regent David Barker suggested that $1 million might be needed elsewhere. “There are mental health issues for noncollege students that are as great or that are greater than for college students,” he said.

Despite strident pushback from its sole Democrat, Iowa’s Board of Regents is on track to approve an inaugural 26 advisory council members for a new legislative-mandated University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom — some of whom were suggested by Gov. Kim Reynolds.