Regents to discuss state funding

Julie Rule

The latest news from the educational topics being addressed by the Iowa Legislature will be among the items of discussion at the state Board of Regents meeting today.Regent Roger Lande said he doesn’t believe there are any items on the agenda that will be very controversial in the meeting held in Rooms 230 to 240 of the Scheman Building.”I’m sure there are some that will promote discussion and debate,” he said.ISU Provost Rollin Richmond said he wasn’t sure what would be reported on the Legislative session.”Things are not looking very good,” he said. “It changes on a daily basis, as far as I can tell.”Frank Stork, regents executive director, gave a report Wednesday on the educational matters the Legislature is discussing, including a cut for the regent schools from the current year’s budget.Regent Clarkson Kelly said a report with further details will be coming out of the Legislative committees, and will be available to the regents this morning.Recently appointed ISU President Gregory Geoffroy also attended the meeting Wednesday. He said he had received many letters from the ISU community, and he is currently trying to learn as much as he can about the university.”It has really been a wonderful month since the original appointment,” Geoffroy said. “It’s clear that the Iowa State family is far-reaching, and they’re certainly wonderful people.”Richmond said the regents will be considering a South 16th Street lease of university land for a proposed golf course today.The regents will also hear a report on a meeting with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, which will be held in executive session toward the end of this morning, according to the agenda.Lande said the executive session is not unusual. “There are several kinds of things involving litigation and personnel matters [that are usually discussed in executive session],” he said.