The Board of Regents committees met Wednesday in Ames, recommending two new majors, renaming of the College of Human Sciences and multiple capital improvement projects.
The Iowa Board of Regents Property and Facilities Committee met Wednesday and recommended the approval of multiple capital improvement projects, including the following:
- NEWRITE project in Howe Hall
- Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center expansion
- Maple Willow Larch Commons remodel
- Stange Road construction
The Academic Affairs Committee also met Wednesday, recommending new majors –game design and education studies– and the renaming of the College of Human Sciences to the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Program Changes
The Academic Affairs Committee recommended two new programs –game design and education studies– to be voted on for the regents’ meeting Thursday.
“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.
The need for an education studies major includes the need to “meet the needs of students who are interested in education but not in becoming a K-12 classroom teacher,” according to regent documents.
Additionally, the university withdrew a request to merge the food science and culinary food science programs. Ann Marie VanDerZanden, associate provost for academic programs, said the departments want to explore the options a little further.
Renamings
The Academic Affairs committee recommended Iowa State’s Administrative Building be renamed the Warren Madden Building.
“For 50 years, Warren Madden invested his time, talents and affection for Iowa State University to make a special place even more special,” Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen said.
Madden was a former Iowa State student, assistant vice president and treasurer, then associate vice president. He retired in 2016 at Iowa State with the role of senior vice president for business and finance.
The committee also recommended the College of Human Sciences be renamed to the College of Health and Human Sciences.
“An update to the ‘College of Health and Human Sciences’ name reflects this work in teaching, research and in extension/outreach programs throughout the college. The addition of health to the college name aids in communicating the health-related focus to students, employers and stakeholders,” according to regent documents.
The change would follow the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities–of which ISU is a member–Board on Human Sciences name change to the Board on Health and Human Sciences.
Atanasoff Hall
Iowa State requested funding for the renewal of Atanasoff Hall, as well as funding for Gilman Hall, Town Engineering and College of Design.
Atanasoff Hall, originally built in 1969, has not undergone a comprehensive renovation since then, according to the university.
“To attract the best students and faculty, we need to provide the department of computer science with modern, collaborative teaching and research facilities,” Wendy Kisch, the associate vice president of facilities planning and management, said.
The deferred maintenance of the building would cost $7 million from appropriations.
NEWRITE
Iowa State is asking for permission to build a NEWRITE, known as National Testing Facility for Enhancing Wind Resiliency of Infrastructure in Tornado-Downburst-Gust-front Events. The facility would cost $14 million, all funded through the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant. Phase one would be completed in Fall 2025 in Howe Hall.
Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center expansion
The university is seeking a 31% increase in funding for the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) Large Animal Hospital expansion project. The proposed budget is now $12 million.
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
The university is asking for additional funding to add a “front of house” remodel to the original project description for Seasons Marketplace.
“Just for reference, the last time the facility was renovated was 2008. It’s time to improve the building,” Sean Reeder, senior vice president of operations and finance, said.
It would include updates to dining areas, food service venues, main entrance and a dedicated special dietary needs station. The cost of the project would be $6.25 million and be completed over the summer’s of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. The “back of house” remodel is already underway.
Stange Road construction
The committee also recommended a revised budget for Stange Road construction to the board. The revised budget doubled due to more funding from the Institutional Roads Program Funds. The project, which would reconstruct Stange Road between 13th Street and Blankenburg Drive and create new sidewalks, would begin in spring 2025 and be completed fall 2025 with a price tag of $3.65 million.
The full Board of Regents will meet at 9:15 a.m. Thursday in the Alumni Center. Visit their website for Thursday’s full agenda.
