The presidents of Iowa’s three regent universities had both good and bad news for the state Board of Regents.

While presidents at the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State reported record enrollment numbers for the 1999-2000 school year during the March 16 meeting, they also expressed their concern over an upcoming budget decision in the Iowa Legislature.

Before the end of April, the Iowa Legislature will be deciding how much money Iowa’s regent schools will receive from the state for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.

Currently, members of the Education Appropriations Committee in the Legislature are considering budget proposals from the Board of Regents, Gov. Tom Vilsack and the Republican Party majority.

University administrators said they are concerned about the budgets proposed by Vilsack and the state’s Republican Party since they include up to $15.4 million less than the budget proposed by the Board of Regents.

ISU President Martin Jischke said if either of the smaller budgets pass, Iowa State’s research efforts, teacher-to-student ratio and student access to higher education would be affected.

“This is without question the most discouraging budget proposal I have seen in my time at Iowa State,” he said. “The foundation of our success, the state of Iowa, is in jeopardy.”

Jischke said the budget cuts would force Iowa State to reallocate its money from the tuition increase last fall. Money from tuition would have to be reallocated to pay for other university expenses, Jischke said, instead of the technology improvements and faculty increases for which it was originally intended.

“Future tuition increases will have to be even more drastic to maintain quality,” he said. “This budget is an enormous step backwards for Iowa State.”

Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Iowa, also expressed her concern to regent members and said her school will be hit the hardest by the budget cuts.

“It’s hard for me to stand before you today and adequately express my dismay in the numbers I’m seeing,” she said. “No other [school] is receiving this level of underfunding and cuts.”

Coleman said she and the other university presidents received no warnings about the cuts during their previous meetings with state legislators. She also said the cuts leave presidents in a very difficult position since Iowa’s universities are enrolling more students every year but will not have the financing to support the increasing numbers.

“This proposal is devastating for the University of Iowa,” she said. “You do a good job, and the state takes away the resources.”

Owen Newlin, president of the Board of Regents, said he agrees with the administrators’ complaints. “A $15.4 million reduction is going to be very, very drastic,” he said. “It will affect all our programs, whether research or service.”

Regent Ellengray Kennedy also said she is concerned about the budget cuts.

“I think the presidents are right on target for being concerned,” she said. “It really will change our commitment to higher education in Iowa.”

Kennedy said she is especially concerned about the long-term effects of the proposed budget cuts, and she and other board members will try to help the universities as much as possible.

“We’ve always tried to have a working relationship [with the Legislature],” she said. “But I don’t think you can continue to ask [the presidents] to reallocate and be the best and then not support them.”

Newlin said one of the main ways he will try to help the universities is by making sure that Iowa residents know about the budget cuts. “We’re going to try and make sure the citizenry is informed of what the impact will be,” he said.

Jischke said he also will be working in the Legislature and with other state officials on the budget.

“This is not wise,” he said. “This is a very, very bad idea.”