Iowa State residence director resigns days before student move-in

AMES — Just days before Iowa State University opened its residence halls and apartments for student move-in this fall, its associate vice president for campus life and director for residence resigned Aug. 7, per a settlement with the university.

In exchange for Associate Vice President Michael Harwood’s voluntary resignation and promise not to seek re-employment, Iowa State agreed to pay him a lump sum of $45,000 within the next month.

His annual salary was $169,950.

Per the deal aimed at “amicably resolving any and all disputes between them,” Harwood also agreed to move out of the university-owned apartment he was living in and return all ISU property — including documents, files, keys and other materials.

The settlement included a promise that Harwood won’t sue Iowa State or any of its officers and representatives and that the Board of Regents and university won’t sue him for any “cause of action arising out of Harwood’s duties and obligations related to his employment with the university.”

“This agreement is not, and shall not in any way, be construed as an admission of any of the parties that any of the parties violated any federal, state or local laws or university policies,” according to the settlement, signed Aug. 14 — just two days before Iowa State residence halls and apartments opened. The fall semester starts Monday.

“The parties agree that the terms and conditions contained herein are fair, reasonable and equitable and are the result of an arm’s length negotiation between the parties,” according to the settlement, which did not disclose details about what led to the need for a settlement.

Harwood leaves Iowa State less than a year after starting Aug. 11, following a national search that brought him from the University of Montana, where he served as director of fiscal and facility operations for UM Housing.

He boasts more than 30 years experience in student affairs, having served — before Montana — as associate vice president for student success at Minnesota State University Moorhead and as assistant vice president and assistant dean of student life at North Dakota State University.

When he was hired last year, Harwood said in a statement, “Iowa State University is recognized for providing an outstanding living and learning experience for students. I am excited return to the Midwest and offer my skills and experience to advance the mission and vision of the institution and the Division of Student Affairs.”

He reported to Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Toyia Younger, hired in August 2020 and had oversight of ISU Campus Life — comprised of three auxiliary operations, including the Department of Residence, ISU Dining and the Memorial Union.

Harwood supervised nine directors across Campus Life, comprised of nearly 500 full-time employees and more than 1,700 student staff, with an annual operating budget of about $114 million.

His director of residence role oversaw a student housing system expecting an occupancy of 10,258 this fall across more than 3.3 million square feet of facilities.

The system’s projected revenue for the new year is $107.6 million, about $8.5 million more than last year — or about $2.6 million more when calculating in a $6 million increase in operating expenses.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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