The Board of Regents will meet at Iowa State University on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss a variety of agenda items, including renamings, capital improvements and new degree programs.

The committee meetings will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. Wednesday and the Board will convene from 9:15 a.m. to noon Thursday. All of the meetings will take place in the Alumni Center.

Renamings

According to previous reporting from the Daily, the Faculty Senate previously held an advisory vote that was unanimously approved.

The renaming would follow the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities renaming of Human Sciences to Health and Human Sciences, according to Board documents.

In November 2022, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (of which ISU is a member) Board on Human Sciences changed its name to the Board on Health and Human Sciences.

“Strong programs, research, and outreach across various dimensions of health are part of the ISU College of Human Sciences’ current offerings. A commitment to health is reflected in the college’s mission, vision, strategic plan and key outcomes. Students can pursue many health-related career fields with programs offered by the college,” according to Board documents.

An additional renaming item is on the agenda for Iowa State’s Administrative Services Building to be renamed the “Warren Madden Building.”

According to regent documents, Madden held multiple positions at Iowa State, as well as earning his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering in 1961 at the university:

“Madden’s leadership and service touched every aspect of campus. His primary responsibilities included payroll, accounting, investments, human resources, facilities planning and management, purchasing, public safety and risk management. In addition, he provided oversight to University Museums, Reiman Gardens, the Iowa State Center, and WOI Radio and Television.”

The university is also looking to approve the renaming of the College of Human Sciences to the College of Health and Human Sciences.

NEWRITE Project

The university is requesting over $14 million for the “NEWRITE” facility on the west side of Howe Hall. NEWRITE, also known as National Testing Facility for Enhancing Wind Resiliency of Infrastructure in Tornado-Downburst-Gust-front Events, is a technology that allows students and faculty to test the effects of windstorms and tornadoes at large scale, according to Iowa State’s News Service.

The project would be fully funded by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant.

Stange Road construction

The university is also requesting a cost revision of a project that would reconstruct Stange Road between 13th Street and Blankenburg Drive. The $3.65 million project originally had a cost of  $1.45 million. Regent documents state that additional funding was available through the Institutional Roads Program Funds. The project would include new street paving, new sidewalks and street lighting. The project would start Spring 2025 and be completed Fall 2025.

Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center expansion 

The university is also requesting additional funding for the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center expansion. 

According to regent documents, the original budget of the expansion was $9.2 million, but after the receipt of additional funds, increased to $12 million – a 31% increase. The additional funding would be provided through the College of Veterinary Medicine funds and private gifts.

“The revised budget would expand the in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer lab addition (Phase 2) and add a rehabilitation room with sports medicine, physical therapy, exam space and a treadmill,” according to regent documents.

MWL Commons remodel

Lastly, the university is requesting additional funding for Maple Willow Larch Commons–Seasons Marketplace–remodel. Funded through dormitory bonds with a price tag of $6.25 million, the project would add a “front of house” operation to the “back of house” renovation. 

The increased funding would include updates to dining areas, food service venues, circulation, main entrance and exit and a dedicated special dietary needs station. Upgrades would also include HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems.

Institutional, leases and easements

Iowa State is looking to approve a contract with the city of Ames that would grant a permanent roadway easement to the city of Ames in order for the city to widen South 16th Street from two to four lanes. 

“The city of Ames road widening project would also include replacement of curbs and gutters, storm sewer improvements, new 10-foot-wide bike/pedestrian trails on both sides of the new four-lane roadway, traffic control improvements and a culvert extension at Worrell Creek,” according to regent documents.

The university is also aiming for approval of additional easements to the city of Ames for the city to operate utility infrastructure in CYTown.

According to regent documents, “to complete CYTown’s remaining infrastructure, additional utility easements are needed to permit the City to operate and maintain electrical, water and sewer infrastructure located within the CYTown Development Area.”

New programs

The Board will consider a request from Iowa State to add two additional bachelor of science programs: game design and education studies.

“Several data sources suggest a strong demand for a GDM among current and future Iowa State University students. The 2019 Proposal to Review Iowa State University’s Undergraduate Programs of Study, produced by the Office of Admissions, identified ‘game design engineering’ as one of three majors particularly relevant to today’s student and job market demand,” according to regent documents.

According to the university, the education studies program is needed for multiple reasons, including the need for a degree program for students interested in education beyond becoming a certified, classroom teacher. Education is also a sector that will always need qualified professionals, the university said.

Additional items

The university is looking to approve Sean Reeder as senior vice president for operations and finance at an annual salary of $395,000.

The Board will also hear fiscal year 2026 state appropriations requests as well as a merging request of food science and culinary food science majors. 

“Through the merger of these two majors into one major, the goal is to increase enrollment by attracting students that are interested in the application of the basic sciences to the quality, safety and nutritional value of foods. Through advising, students will have the opportunity to select the option that best fits their interests,” according to regent documents.

For the full schedule and timing, visit the Board of Regents’ website.