Higher Ed

As of Tuesday morning, just shy of 2,800 new and returning UI students already had moved into the campus’ 10 residence halls – with under 1,000 expected later Tuesday. After new student move-in continues Wednesday and Thursday, and returning students arrive Saturday,

Rephrasing earlier guidance that explicitly prohibited instructors from asking students to wear masks, barred them from inquiring about vaccination, and dissuaded them from even discussing either issue, the University of Iowa has disseminated new COVID-related directives.

Faculty across Iowa’s public universities are voicing disappointment this fall’s COVID-19 conditions aren’t as improved as hoped — or as they seemed just weeks ago — and urging administrators, as hard as it might be, to make the tough call to backpedal on promises for a more normal semester.

Students clamoring to return to campus – and return to the collegiate norms of in-person learning, group study sessions, football, tailgating, Greek rush, homecoming and the like – began moving into residence halls over the weekend and will continue their migration throughout the week.

A yearlong review finds current systems ineffective for many — particularly underrepresented and vulnerable students — and more mental health and non-law enforcement services could be fruitful.

Despite predictions for a vastly different academic year than last, University of Iowa faculty again are raising safety concerns as they head into a fall semester with COVID cases rising — echoing demands from a year ago for stronger administrative stances and public health precautions.

Although administrators leading Iowa’s public universities say they can’t mandate vaccines or masks heading into a fall semester that arrives with COVID cases again on the rise, they’re encouraging their tens of thousands of campus community members to get a shot before returning.

The State of Iowa last month agreed to pay a former University of Iowa secretary $35,000 after she was fired for sleeping on the job – despite reporting a related disability necessitating workplace accommodations she said UI failed to provide.

The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, while rivals, have neighboring booths at the Iowa State Fairgrounds each year.

Even before the pandemic upended education in 2020, fewer Iowans were filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — a key indicator of college enrollment and, for many, a “door” to higher education.

The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox meet where W.P. Kinsella’s novel is immortalized on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 at 6:15 p.m.

Following a stinging denial in February and another unexpected delay over the summer, University of Iowa Health Care’s revamped application to build a new $230 million facility off Interstate-380 in North Liberty is set to have a second shot before the State Health Facilities Council on Aug. 31.