At the upcoming Board of Regents meeting, discussions will be held on many issues pertaining to Iowa State, including budget and parking situations.

The meeting will take place at Iowa State Wednesday and Thursday.

“There should be a fairly-lengthy discussion about budget and salary issues,” said Greg Nichols, executive director of the Board of Regents. “The board will have an informal discussion with each of the institution heads this month, leading up to formal submission and approval.”

Regent David Fisher said the budget is usually presented, but not voted on in the same session.

“Usually they present it to us, we have time to digest it, ask questions and think about it, then vote on it in a few sessions,” Fisher said.

Keeping competitive salaries in a time of budget cuts is one of the major issues to be discussed.

“There’s certainly a lot of concern in the salary areas that we stay competitive – especially with the increased demand in the schools,” Regent David Neil said.

“They will discuss the issues of what it takes to do salary increases and what the tradeoffs are. Then let the board members and institution heads have serious, but not argumentative, discussion,” Nichols said.

The Regents are expected to review and give the go-ahead on building a one-deck parking ramp over an existing lot, as well as a multi-level parking ramp.

“I think it will be approved. I know they need the resources to enhance parking on campus,” Fisher said. “The dues or fees must be there to support adding additional parking or better parking.”

Nichols said they will also be naming the transit station in the commuter lot – proposed to be named after former Ames City Councilwoman Ann Campbell.

There are also proposals for a new interdepartmental minor in food safety and the proposal to merge animal ecology and forestry, Nichols said.

In addition, the Regents are expected to vote Willard “Sandy” Boyd as the University of Iowa interim president. The Board will also formally accept the resignation from current President at the University of Iowa Mary Sue Coleman, who recently accepted an offer to be president of the University of Michigan.

“Primarily, one of the key topics will be enforcing the criteria for the selection of a new president at the University of Iowa,” Fisher said.

Neala Arnold, junior in elementary education at the University of Iowa, will be present at this meeting, replacing former Regent Lisa Ahrens, a student at Iowa State.