The Board of Regents met in Ames on Thursday, approving the entire consent agenda unanimously, which included the College of Human Sciences name change. The Board hears from Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen regarding the start of the 2024 fall semester and enhancing Iowa’s rural economy.
Approved items
Previous reporting from the Daily indicates the university was seeking approval of multiple items. The board unanimously approved all of the items with no discussion. The following items were approved:
- Renaming of the College of Human Sciences to College of Health and Human Sciences
- Administrative Services Building renamed the Warren Madden Building
- Addition of game design and education studies majors
- NEWRITE facility in Howe Hall, $14 million
- Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) Large Animal Hospital expansion project budget increase to $12 million
- Maple Willow Larch –Season’s Marketplace– remodel budget increase to $6.25 million.
- Stange Road construction project between 13th Street and Blankenburg Drive budget increase to $3.65 million
- Funding for Atanasoff Hall, Gilman Hall, Town Engineering and College of Design
Wintersteen’s remarks
Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen gave a 10 minute presentation regarding how the fall semester has started and the university’s plan of investing in Iowa’s rural economy.
“It has been a great semester,” Wintersteen said. “We had thousands of enthusiastic cyclones attend our welcome events, including Destination Iowa State and Cyclone Welcome Weekend.”
President Wintersteen said Iowa State continues to see growth in enrollment, citing the university welcomed 5,906 first year students.
“They certainly change Iowa State when they arrive,” Wintersteen said.
Wintersteen also gave a presentation about how Iowa State plans to invest in rural Iowa in fiscal year 2026.
“We are requesting a $4.75 million increase to support additional capacity for Iowa State agricultural experiment station,” Wintersteen said.
The university also requested $4 million to launch four manufacturing hubs. “Sixty percent of rural Iowa manufacturers report a shortage of salaried, technical workers that impede their growth,” according to Wintersteen.
Wintersteen said the university is also requesting an additional $1 million that would be used to support ten full in-state tuition scholarships for the university’s ISU Production Animal Veterinary early acceptance program.
According to Wintersteen, for every dollar that is invested by the Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council, the university can leverage $10 in external funding.
The university also requested $1.5 million for veterinary diagnostic laboratory operations and $250,000 to support the university’s mission to cultivate student entrepreneurs.
Additional Items
Regent and Board President Sherry Bates gave an update regarding the board’s effort to implement the DEI requirements under Senate File 24.35.
Bates said although the requirements do not take effect until 2025, the board has placed a deadline of Dec. 31, 2024, for Iowa’s three public universities to comply with the law.
The Board also the met in closed session.
