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 Aug. 19, 2024 7:38 am408d ago
A century after its debut along the Iowa River that divides the University of Iowa campus, the Iowa Memorial Union early next year will embark on a “major redesign and renovation” that could include new franchised food vendors -- among other new union services and features catering to today’s evolving student needs, expectations, and preferences.
Higher Ed Aug. 19, 2024 7:51 am408d ago
Using a student-teacher model for therapists in training, the grant-funded Telepsychology Training Clinic at the University of Iowa has offered free, short-term counseling to more than 200 Iowans in 17 counties.
Higher Ed Aug. 14, 2024 7:45 am413d ago
Within a matter of days, college and university communities across the state will experience the annual population swell of students returning to campus for another academic year.
Higher Ed Aug. 13, 2024 5:30 am414d ago
At a time of growing worker needs across the agriculture industry and strong sustained interest among agriculture students, Kirkwood Community College last week secured itself more educational cropland with a $1.4 million purchase of 80 nearby acres.
Higher Ed Aug. 8, 2024 5:58 pm418d ago
Nearly seven years after a Mt. Pleasant man underwent a coronary artery bypass graft at University of Iowa Health Care in January 2018, UIHC has agreed to pay him $250,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging negligence.
Higher Ed Aug. 8, 2024 11:03 am419d ago
University of Iowa Health Care will pay $1.2 million to the parents of a 17-year-old Iowa City High School senior who died unexpectedly in July 2020 after several UIHC providers mistook her symptoms of a developing pulmonary embolism as COVID.
Higher Ed Aug. 6, 2024 7:33 am421d ago
Adding to its growing clinical enterprise and footprint across Eastern Iowa, Steindler Orthopedic Clinic on Monday debuted its eighth location — this one in Cedar Rapids, where about one-third of its clientele reside.
Higher Ed Aug. 5, 2024 7:49 am422d ago
Three days after asking a judge to get involved in the delayed distribution of Mercy Iowa City’s liquidated assets -- accusing the bankrupt hospital’s management team of poor communication and miscalculation in stalling payments -- Mercy’s bondholders last week finally got back some of the long-sought $62.8 million they’re owed.
Higher Ed Aug. 2, 2024 7:23 am425d ago
Making official a likely union Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose universities announced earlier this year in the face of financial headwinds sweeping across higher education, presidents of the two Eastern Iowa Catholic campuses Thursday signed a formal agreement to combine their institutions.
Higher Ed Aug. 1, 2024 7:20 am426d ago
Nearly two months after a bankruptcy judge confirmed a liquidation plan for the former Mercy Iowa City’s tens of millions in assets, and more than a month after that plan went into effect, secured bondholders “have yet to receive a single ‘effective date’ distribution.”
Higher Ed Jul. 31, 2024 5:30 am427d ago
Although Iowa — as America’s top hog producer — generated $10.9 billion in cash receipts in 2022, it could have made more if not for the persistence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, according to new Iowa State University research.
Higher Ed Jul. 29, 2024 6:13 pm428d ago
The University of Iowa has agreed to pay a federally-funded researcher and cardiologist with tenure $350,000 to resign -- relinquishing his tenure rights and suspending “any internal proceedings” involving him.
Higher Ed Jul. 29, 2024 11:23 am429d ago
On July 22, ISU officially closed its DEI office, university spokeswoman Angie Hunt said. The closure cut five positions, although only two of those posts were filled at the time.
Higher Ed Jul. 26, 2024 9:30 am432d ago
A year after a swell of top medical schools boycotted the U.S. News & World Report rankings for their reliance on reputation and other potentially-biased metrics, the publication has re-calibrated its process and released new grouping-style med school standings -- putting the University of Iowa in a second tier of four.
Higher Ed Jul. 25, 2024 7:36 am433d ago
With a new increase in state appropriations — after lawmakers withheld one last year — paired with a strong enrollment outlook and recently-approved tuition bumps, all three of Iowa’s public universities are anticipating a total revenue boost in the new budget year.