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 Jul. 22, 2025 5:42 pm70d ago
With the governor’s signature now on a bill requiring the University of Iowa to create a new Center for Intellectual Freedom, the Board of Regents has proposed to serve as its interim executive director the conservative UI professor who advocated for the center’s creation during the Legislative session.
Higher Ed Jul. 22, 2025 5:36 pm70d ago
Having heard from dozens of faculty, staff, students and members of the public — not only in Iowa but across the country — Iowa’s Board of Regents is further postponing its vote on a proposed policy to ban “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “critical race theory” requirements for majors, minors, and certificates.
Higher Ed Jul. 22, 2025 8:05 am71d ago
Six years after the University of Iowa landed $115 million from NASA to research how solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field -- marking the largest external funding award in campus history -- the twin satellites that UI researchers have been building for the mission are set to launch Tuesday.
Higher Ed Jul. 21, 2025 7:37 am72d ago
A new Gallup poll out Wednesday circling back to the question of Americans’ confidence in higher education shows a measurable rebound over the last 12 months — with the percent who reported “quite a lot” or a “great deal” of confidence swelling to 42 percent from last year’s 36 percent, the lowest on Gallup record.
Higher Ed Jul. 18, 2025 4:36 pm74d ago
The Department of Homeland Security should have raised its arguments sooner, according to a federal judge who in May granted a preliminary injunction the government now is fighting that prevents it from terminating the immigration status of four University of Iowa international students.
Higher Ed Jul. 18, 2025 7:25 am75d ago
Even as President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the federal TRIO programs that since the 1960s have aimed to help disadvantaged students attain some form of higher education, Kirkwood Community College this week announced it has landed $3.1 million in TRIO grants over the next five years.
Higher Ed Jul. 18, 2025 7:24 am75d ago
In an evolving federal funding landscape under a new administration with shifting priorities, Iowa’s top research universities on Thursday announced drops in research funding for the budget year that ended June 30.
Higher Ed Jul. 16, 2025 5:38 pm76d ago
Just over a month after suing the University of Northern Iowa for alleged age discrimination, the campus’ former student health director has settled — taking $222,193 to walk away from her job.
Higher Ed Jul. 16, 2025 8:05 am77d ago
With its new flight school and aviation management program set to launch next month, Coe College has announced a new partnership with Kansas City-based ATD Flight Systems – affording students an expedited exam process and ticket behind the control wheel.
Higher Ed Jul. 14, 2025 7:36 am79d ago
Four anonymous University of Iowa students in April sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for terminating, without explanation or due process, their status in the Student Exchange Visitor System — compelling a judge days later to grant a temporary restraining order blocking the terminations and other government threats.
Higher Ed Jul. 10, 2025 3:40 pm82d ago
A U.S. Department of Defense “deferred resignation program” has pushed the U.S. Army Cadet Command to cut its civilian workforce 12 percent — or 168 positions — shrinking its ROTC footprint through closures and reclassifications, including three in Iowa.
Higher Ed Jul. 11, 2025 7:28 am82d ago
The University of Iowa will exit its 66-year lease of the 485-acre Macbride Nature Recreation Area when it expires July 1, 2029 after an in-depth review found maintaining the historic land will cost an immediate $14.8 million in repairs and upgrades.
Higher Ed Jul. 9, 2025 7:15 am84d ago
With crews in the midst of replacing nearly every window encasing its eight-year-old Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the University of Iowa on Tuesday announced it has won a $49.4 million arbitration award in its complaint over the defective windows.
Higher Ed Jul. 8, 2025 5:30 pm84d ago
Despite Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of $1.5 million lawmakers appropriated toward a University of Northern Iowa effort to charge in-state tuition to undergrads from border states, UNI has found a way to offer the good-neighbor discount anyway.
Higher Ed Jul. 7, 2025 8:28 am86d ago
As University of Iowa Health Care expands it facilities and footprint, and by extension services across Iowa and beyond, administrators want to be strategic in the growth — creating new leadership roles to shepherd the organization’s evolution.