116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

Vanessa Miller
I’ve covered lots of beats over my decades as a reporter, and one reason I really enjoy higher education is because it touches on them all. One day I’m writing about science and interviewing University of Iowa NASA researchers, the next I’m writing about health care, or agriculture, or a new Iowa State-supported business, or athletic budgets, or criminal justice, or the Legislature and potential bills affecting Iowa’s university and college campuses. I also love that I get to investigate and dig deep on some stories, report hard news, and then also share incredible and sometimes harrowing tales of survival or discovery. When I’m not working, I’m playing with my kids or following them around to wrestling tournaments. Get the news delivered right to your inbox.
Latest Articles by Vanessa Miller
Higher Ed May. 17, 2023 6:00 am23d ago
As the University of Iowa searches for new leadership atop its sprawling health care enterprise, growing network of hospitals and clinics, and highly-ranked college of medicine, administrators want a partner to help them assess “fair market valuation” of a “wide range of health care settings and assets.”
Higher Ed May. 17, 2023 10:00 am23d ago
Northeast Iowa’s 166-year-old Upper Iowa University is cutting 37 positions and closing seven of its more than 20 regional education centers due to dropping enrollment, shifting student needs, and headwinds facing all of higher education.
Higher Ed May. 12, 2023 3:47 pm28d ago
About 12,000 students will graduate from Iowa’s public universities this weekend – many of whom will commemorate the achievement by participating in one or more of the dozens of ceremonies and receptions scheduled across the three campuses.
Higher Ed May. 15, 2023 8:39 am25d ago
In the early 1940s, when Fred Taylor was pursuing a postsecondary degree at Cornell, the world was at war and the United States was drafting servicemen.
Higher Ed May. 11, 2023 4:33 pm29d ago
The Board of Regents on Thursday -- without much discussion -- held its first of two required readings on a tuition increase for all students across its three public universities, with final approval expected in June.
Higher Ed May. 11, 2023 7:54 am29d ago
The University of Iowa – which did not boycott the rankings like dozens of elite law and medical schools nationally and continued providing U.S. News with internal data – lost ground in its overall law and medical school rankings, although still placing high.
Higher Ed May. 10, 2023 6:08 pm30d ago
For the fourth time since 2007, the National Institutes of Health has renewed a large scientific grant for the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine — this time awarding it $28 million over seven years to “take clinical research out into rural communities.”
Higher Ed May. 10, 2023 6:00 am30d ago
A month after Mercy Iowa City leadership named a new CEO, announced the hospital again would exit its partnership with Des Moines-based MercyOne, and disclosed the hire of an operations improvement consultant, executives last week shared more organizational updates – including that an “internal and external” rebranding is underway.
Higher Ed May. 9, 2023 3:43 pm31d ago
In-state undergraduate students across Iowa’s three public universities could face a 3.5 percent tuition hike in the next academic year under a proposal the Board of Regents will consider later this week.
Higher Ed May. 15, 2023 3:27 pm25d ago
The second of two finalists for the highest job atop University of Iowa Health Care and the UI College of Medicine on Monday spoke directly to key concerns, issues, and incentives presently before the enterprise he aims to lead – including physical growth, community collaboration, patient satisfaction, and staffing.
Higher Ed May. 8, 2023 11:17 am32d ago
Nearing a century after the Western Golf Association teamed up with accomplished amateur golfer Charles Evans Jr. to establish a scholarship program for young golf caddies, it has added the University of Iowa to its list of partner schools – unveiling an inaugural class of 10 UI Evans scholars for the upcoming fall.
Health Care and Medicine May. 7, 2023 5:03 pm33d ago
Mark Rosenblatt, a top executive with the University of Illinois College of Medicine and health system, is the second finalist of two to succeed Brooks Jackson as vice president for medical affairs of University of Iowa Health Care and dean of its Carver College of Medicine.
News May. 5, 2023 10:17 am35d ago
As Wesleyan heads toward its last commencement Saturday, nearly 100 will cross the stage to collect a diploma.
Higher Ed May. 4, 2023 9:05 pm36d ago
Nearly 10 years after leaving her vice president position at Kirkwood Community College for a senior post at ACT Inc., Kristie Fisher is returning to the Cedar Rapids campus — but this time for the top job as Kirkwood’s sixth president.
Higher Ed May. 4, 2023 10:12 am36d ago
The education appropriations proposal scheduled to be considered by the full House and Senate on Wednesday includes a combined $7.1 million more for specific programs across Iowa’s three public universities – well below the $32 million spike in general fund dollars the Board of Regents sought for its campuses in the upcoming budget year.