Regents funding needs review now

Before Iowa lawmakers give a nod to the Iowa Regents' request for $12.9 million supplemental funding, a task force should be implemented to further study the whole of a new state funding model.

Regent President Bruce Rastetter confirmed $12.9 million will be reallocated away from the University of Iowa and split between Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa for the 2016 budget year if state lawmakers don't approve additional funding. The move is part of a decision to revamp a funding model that has served the state since 1945.

New funding metrics bind 60 percent of state appropriations to in-state enrollment, 15 percent to progress and attainment, 10 percent to access, 5 percent to sponsored research and 5 percent to gradate and professional student enrollment. A remaining 5 percent is left to the discretion of the Regents, whom have decided to apportion the funds in the next budget year using the above breakdown.

Recent discovery of a series of messages between members of the Regents' funding discussion group, however, has clouded the waters on whether the move to the new 'performance-based” funding model was done in the best interest of taxpayers, the universities or the greater higher education community.

We do not have faith, for instance, that Regents President Pro Tem Katie Mulholland, who served as the organization's representative in funding model discussions, sent follow-up correspondence to all but one member of the task force because she did not have that one member's contact information. The tenor of the messages that were sent allude to an environment of collusion and exclusion that should not have been tolerated, much less present within discussions involving more than $650 million of taxpayer funds.

As to Mulholland's assertion that the excluded member was 'very aggravated” by the findings of the task force and she did not want to exacerbate the issue, we would remind all Iowans in leadership positions that seats of privilege are not always comfortable.

Some Iowa lawmakers have already stated their intention to review the funding model and the supplemental appropriation once the legislative session begins in January.

Given the impact on the general fund and the importance of higher education, we believe discussions should begin as soon as the Regents' funding request is received.

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