Vanessa Miller

In response to a federal complaint from University of Northern Iowa’s faculty union accusing the UNI administration of prohibiting COVID safety measures, a state health and safety official pointed to Iowa’s law barring mask mandates.

For the second time, Iowa State University has exceeding its “Forever True, For Iowa State” fundraising campaign goal by bringing in $1.542 billion by June 30 — thanks to 532,377 gifts from more than 96,000 donors.

University of Iowa planners promise residents of the historic Manville Heights neighborhood not to replace its quaint former marching band field with a busy student-focused high rise. And they vowed not to let the space morph into a shopping hub or become home to a warehouse.

A former Iowa State University teaching assistant is suing representatives of the Board of Regents and ISU Graduate College after he was terminated for neglecting his duties by – among other things – failing to grade homework on time and changing homework assignments.

Although an academic titan — and pioneer of the esteemed and widely-used meta-analysis research method — University of Iowa professor emeritus Frank L. Schmidt’s friends and “intellectual” children and grandchildren say they’ll also remember his humanity and generosity.

As tens of thousands of new and returning students poured back into Iowa’s public university classrooms Monday, leaders delivered welcome messages of hope and trepidation given rising COVID case and hospitalization numbers statewide.

On the eve of an academic year promising to be unlike any other — by being, officials hope, more than last year like many others — University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson stood with thousands of new freshmen in solidarity. “Our job is to be healthy Hawkeyes,” she said.

Although the City of Iowa City on Thursday night defied state law by mandating masks in all indoor spaces — specifically naming University of Iowa academic buildings and business offices — UI administrators on Friday advised campus leaders the mandate doesn’t apply to them.

School district exploring potential legal paths to protect students, staff and families

For years, including earlier this year, Iowa's public universities considered names and documents of employees they hired without formal searches — counter to campus policy — public information warranting release upon request. But they've changed their mind.

In a recent letter to about 52 homes in the two-block vicinity, UI officials alerted neighbors they’re in the “early stages of developing the former marching band practice field on Park Road, along with some adjoining property.”

As of Tuesday morning, just shy of 2,800 new and returning UI students already had moved into the campus’ 10 residence halls – with under 1,000 expected later Tuesday. After new student move-in continues Wednesday and Thursday, and returning students arrive Saturday,

Rephrasing earlier guidance that explicitly prohibited instructors from asking students to wear masks, barred them from inquiring about vaccination, and dissuaded them from even discussing either issue, the University of Iowa has disseminated new COVID-related directives.

Faculty across Iowa’s public universities are voicing disappointment this fall’s COVID-19 conditions aren’t as improved as hoped — or as they seemed just weeks ago — and urging administrators, as hard as it might be, to make the tough call to backpedal on promises for a more normal semester.

A week away from the start of school for many Iowans, University of Iowa Health Care at noon today is hosting a Facebook Live Q&A specifically about COVID-19 and kids.