The first of two finalists to succeed Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen is Benjamin Houlton, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, where he holds rank as an ecology and evolutionary biology professor and co-chairs a “Climate Initiative” aimed at “mobilizing practical climate change solutions.”
As the University of Iowa winds down operations at the 485-acre Macbride Nature Recreation Area — having decided to terminate its 66-year lease of the property and with it the discovery, innovation, and exploration of the land that’s captivated elementary students to UI professors for decades — officials are notifying programs using the facility about next steps, including when they need to be out.
A second of four finalists for the Iowa State University president post has dropped out of contention, days after another candidate earlier this week declined to continue with the process.
In line with legislation requiring Iowa’s public universities to start offering shorter paths to a degree — launching students into the workforce more quickly — the University of Northern Iowa this month debuted a new elementary education “degree in 3.”
Iowa’s Board of Regents for the first time is seeking a firm, rather than a single person, to serve as its legislative liaison and state relations representative for the University of Iowa in dealings with the Legislature and executive branch.
One of the four finalists a search committee selected to become its next Iowa State University president has decided not to continue with the public portion of the interview process -- leaving just three on track to visit campus next week.
With a growing chorus of constituents urging Iowa’s Board of Regents to either sign or reject the Trump Administration’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” a board spokesman confirmed, “We are reviewing the compact.”
Revenue sharing with student athletes will account for at least $41 million, or 13 percent, of Iowa’s public university athletic department expenses this budget year, according to the first higher education-related research report from the two-year-old Iowa branch of the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute.
Started over a decade ago, the Hawks to Go tailgate has helped raise money to the children’s hospital before every Hawkeye football game.
A group of seven donors and UI leaders this month have launched a national search for the next president of its $2.2 billion philanthropic enterprise after Lynette Marshall in May announced plans to retire.
A search committee interviewing eight semi-finalists to become Iowa State University’s 17th president has cut the group in half — identifying four finalists to visit campus the first week in November.
After six years on Iowa’s nine-member Board of Regents and with another six-year term just starting, David Barker on Monday officially resigned — with the understanding he’ll be sworn in Wednesday as U.S. assistant secretary for postsecondary education.
The 12 committee members leading Iowa State University’s search for its next president began interviewing semi-finalists Monday morning on the Ames campus — with eight candidates invited to participate in the virtual closed-session discussions over the next two days.
At the end of the year, Merrill will step down as IWP director and focus on writing and teaching as a member of the English Department faculty. Cate Dicharry, former executive associate director of operations for IWP, will take over in January.
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