Iowa Board of Regents: nine-member board governs three public universities under Iowa Code chapter 262

The Regents, State Board of, is a nine-member citizen board that governs Iowa’s three public universities — the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa — under authority granted in Iowa Code chapter 262.

The board is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate; members serve staggered six-year terms. By statute the board must meet at least four times a year and may hold closed sessions only where Iowa’s open meetings law allows, such as for personnel matters or pending litigation.

Iowa Code chapter 262 gives the board broad administrative authority over the institutions under its control. The board’s statutory responsibilities include approving major business and financial actions such as setting tuition and fee levels, approving bonds and setting investment policies. The board also reviews and approves academic programs, institutional missions and strategic plans, and must approve most leadership hires, new policies and large construction projects on campus.

Membership rules spelled out in the presentation include a requirement that one member be a student at one of Iowa’s public universities and a political-party limitation that no more than five members may be of the same party. The board elects a president and a president pro tempore every two years.

Speakers in the briefing described the Board as having administered Iowa’s public universities for more than 100 years and as a body that coordinates policy, oversight and cooperation among the three institutions. The presentation also said the board engages in activities intended to support economic development and research that benefit Iowans.

Details not specified in the briefing included meeting dates, individual member names and any pending agenda items for upcoming board meetings.