In addition to approving minutes from the December and January meetings, the Board of Regents will discuss various capital improvements, catalog revisions and presentations from Iowa State ROTC and President Steven Leath at its meeting Wednesday and Thursday.

Reiman Garden improvements and property purchase

With a $3.4 million budget, Iowa State will look for approval of the newly-designed southwest corner of the Reiman Gardens.

A mostly cosmetic change, the improvements will create water pools, rock walls and feature native plantings around the designated area.

Construction would begin during the summer of 2017, and the area would be open to the public in the spring of 2018.

Iowa State will also seek approval for the purchasing of the South Dakota Avenue Tennis Performance Center. Originally approved for an annual $540,000 lease payment in April 2016, Iowa State now hopes to purchase the center outright for the total lease payment of $2.7 million.

Course catalog changes and retention

Diana Gonzalez, chief Board of Regents academic officer, will present on the current state of Iowa State’s curriculum.

More than 107 new courses have been added to Iowa State during the 2016-17 school year, with the College of Design receiving the most new classes, 17. Engineering rounds out the 125 eliminated courses with 32 classes no longer being offered.

This report will focus on the findings of the university in each of its colleges, detailing any academic changes and proposed revisions. The presentation will also summarize the programs added due to prior board action, including majors in criminal justice and entrepreneurship.

Focusing on rates from nearly the past 10 years and more, the Regents will then discuss student retention rates and enrollment for all three public universities. This includes data on one year retention based on financial aid and ACT scores as well as four to six year graduation rates.

Presentations and diversity

Policy and Operations Analyst Andrea Anania will present her findings on diversity within the workplace at all three public universities. The discussion will focus on tenured faculty as well as general staff and faculty, including the ratio of male to female employees.

All three public university residence systems will also report. This will include a report from Iowa State regarding the opening of the newly constructed Gregory L. Geoffroy residence hall.

Both Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter and Iowa State President Steven Leath will present their reports to the board.

TWITTER: Board of Regents to summarize and report on curriculum and retention rates. 

FB: The Board of Regents will meet Wednesday to begin the first of a two day meeting to discuss curriculum, diversity and the Reiman Gardens