Additional off-campus housing was approved at the April 25, 2013 Board of Regents meeting.

A request to add 299 new beds from apartments at 119 Stanton, owned by American Campus Communities, and 204 beds from Jensen Properties in West Ames was given the go-ahead in a unanimous vote.

Warren Madden, senior vice president for business and finance, and Pete Englin, director of the Department of Residence, presented the proposal to the Board.

“It was a positive dialogue. They thanked us for continuing to pay attention to students and their needs and their desires to live in university-owned or managed properties, and we’ll do our best to make it a great experience,” Englin said.

Englin said he anticipates the agreements will be signed within the next couple weeks and will take effect August 1.

On April 1, an update revealed that Iowa State was 1,200 bed requests over the Department of Residence’s capacity. Even with the additional beds to be added to Frederiksen Court, 240 in August and 480 in the spring, demand still outnumbered availability.

Qualifications for the new additions are the same as those of Frederiksen Court. Students must be 19 years of age or in their second year of college, determined by calendar, not by credits taken. The university will furnish these apartments in a similar way to Frederiksen Court apartments.

As far as price goes, the American Campus Communities and Jensen apartments are comparable to those of Frederiksen Court. A four-bedroom apartment at any of the three locations will cost a proposed rate of $5,257.

University Housing and Dining Operating will fund the August 2013-July 2014 leases.

The Board heard from ISU Faculty Senate President Suzanne Hendrich and Professional and Scientific Council President David Orman regarding faculty salary issues.

“Our engagement in our work, our determination to succeed, the value we place on diversity, and making a difference, our positive attitudes and our deep connections that we have with others … [are] core to our university’s progress,” Hendrich said.

Hendrich informed the Board of the three main things on faculty minds: how to maintain and enhance quality of student education experiences as student numbers exceed growth in faculty numbers, how to maintain and enhance the faculty capabilities as scholars in a time of decline in federal research funding and how to make Iowa a better place.

“We know the work we do is of immense value to students, to our academic fields and to the state of Iowa,” Hendrich said. “The tangible support of your advocacy for faculty salary increases helps us, and Iowa, to thrive.”

Orman delivered on behalf of the Professional and Scientific Council staff saying that they help make Iowa a better place by providing ISU students with the best experience possible while also bringing in millions of dollars in research and grants.

“Our effort to be the best has been hampered in recent years by federal and state budget crises and priorities. Inadequate funding has put a lot of downward pressure on ISU salaries,” Orman said.

It is unknown if the salary was approved, because the Board went into closed session shortly following presentations and Hendrich was unable to be contacted for comment.