Iowa Regents to hold new 'transparency' public hearings

In response to recommendations made in August by a transparency task force for the Iowa Board of Regents, first-of-their-kind public hearings now are scheduled at each of the state's five institutions through the end of 2014.

The new public hearings occur before regent board meetings, after agenda materials are made public, and allow anyone – from students and faculty to unassociated citizens – to comment on issues affecting the regents, including items on upcoming agendas.

Anyone wanting to speak at the hearings will sign in and have three to five minutes to talk – depending on the number of speakers signed up. The hearings, which can go longer than one hour to accommodate more speakers, will be video recorded at posted on the regent's web site.

Comments received at the hearings will be reviewed and considered for possible placement on Board of Regents meeting agendas. Anyone who can't attend but wants to comment can provide written feedback to the Board of Regents' transparent officer, Sheila Doyle Koppin, at http://www.regents.iowa.gov/transparency/transparency.htm.

Prior to the new hearings, anyone wanting to provide public comment to the Board of Regents had to contact the office before board meetings and request time on the agenda.

The first round of public hearings is scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18 – one week before the regents' meeting on Oct. 23 and 24, and two days after agenda materials are made public Oct. 15 at www.regents.iowa.gov.

Other Transparency task force recommendations include appointing transparency officers at each regent university and school, keeping a central log of all public records requests, and posting those requests online. The group also recommended requiring transparency reports quarterly, establishing a transparency data page on each university or school's website, holding press briefings upon release of the board's agenda and requiring the board to hold at least one meeting in each congressional district.

Below are times, dates and locations of the Board of Regent's first round of public hearings.

Iowa Braille School, Vinton

Old Main, Room 16

Thursday, Oct. 17, Noon – 1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Business and Community Services Building, Room 30

Thursday, Oct. 17, 4 – 5 p.m.

University of Iowa, Iowa City

University Capitol Centre, Room 2520C

Thursday, Oct. 17, 6 – 7 p.m.

Iowa State University, Ames

Memorial Union, Oak Room

Friday, Oct. 18, Noon – 1 p.m.

Iowa School for the Deaf, Council Bluffs

Lied Multipurpose Complex, Community Room

Friday, Oct. 18, 4 – 5 p.m.

Board of Regents

Board Office, Urbandale

Friday, Oct. 18, 6 – 7 p.m.

To view all the public hearing dates, times and locations, visit http://www.regents.iowa.gov/transparency/PublicHearingsSchedule2013-2014.pdf.