Students from the three regent universities will meet with members of the Board of Regents, Iowa legislators, university administration and the governor on Wednesday to discuss the future of Iowa.

The event, Meet the Future of Iowa, will feature a keynote speech by Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Jared Bartel, director of ISU ambassadors, said he hopes students will express the importance of higher education during the event because they have a lot to offer the state.

Bartel said increasing tuition is an issue that will be addressed during Meet the Future of Iowa. The Partnership for Transformation and Excellence, which would hold tuition increases to the inflation rate each year for the next four years, is something students want to push. He said working with legislators will be beneficial.

“We all need to bond together and find some kind of solution,” Bartel said.

Andy Baumert, state public relations officer for Iowa State, said the students are giving a message to the state that they are interested in achieving higher education goals.

“It’s a very good demonstration that students of Iowa State are fully in support of the Partnership for Transformation and Excellence,” Baumert said.

Angela Groh, GSB director of government relations, said the event will raise awareness for the partnership proposal and also allow legislators to raise concerns of the partnership proposal to students.

Groh said the evening will try to reach two goals: to increase communication between students and the Statehouse and to highlight the three regent universities.

The event could include as many as 250 people, Groh said. The other two regent schools, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, plan to send students to Ames for the event. Groh said 24 representatives and senators have sent her reservations to attend, but she hopes it will increase to about 30.

Bartel said each regent university can be effective in trying to lobby for themselves but together the three schools have more of an impact.

He said the communication will not be limited to tuition.

“Legislators are really anxious to talk about keeping young people in Iowa,” Bartel said.

After the program portion of the night, Groh said, a block of seats will be set aside for participants of Meet the Future of Iowa to go to the men’s basketball game. The cost to attend the game is $25. She said this would be a great opportunity to meet with legislators in an informal environment.

For those who choose not to attend the game, a lecture on “Gender, Islam and Democracy” is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Groh said any student is welcome to attend Meet the Future of Iowa, though they should wear business attire.

A reception hour will begin at 5 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

The program will begin at 6 p.m.