Regents efficiency review still in the plans

State Board of Regents staff say a planned efficiency study of Iowa's three public universities should be underway by the end of this fiscal year.

Regents President Craig Lang this fall spoke several times about the study, which he said will be aimed at finding perhaps millions in efficiency and productivity savings. It was initially thought that bids to hire an outside consultant on the review would go out in the fall.

But the efficiency study was put on hold, regents office staff said this week, due to the holidays and the University of Northern Iowa presidential search, which is wrapping up with finalist interviews and visits in the next two weeks.

The plan remains to hire an outside consultant for a review of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and UNI, regents office staff said. It's too early to know a cost estimate on such a study, staff said, but they expect efficiency reviews will be underway on the three campuses before the end of this fiscal year, in June.

Lang first announced the idea to hire an outside consultant for an efficiency study at the board's September meeting. The universities have made strides in recent years on efficiency and collaboration, Lang has said, but regents leaders think more savings can be found with the help of a consultant.