Lawmaker refers UI job postings to AG for containing 'DEI language' The Republican chair of Iowa's House Higher Education Committee has referred three University of Iowa job advertisements to the attorney general for containing "DEI language" -- which has been banned ...

The Republican chair of Iowa’s House Higher Education Committee has referred three University of Iowa job advertisements to the attorney general for containing “DEI language” — which has been banned by recently-passed legislation.
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UI student accused of 'trying to assault' lawmaker while being escorted out of DEI hearing A University of Iowa doctoral candidate was escorted out of a higher education subcommittee Monday following a contentious back-and-forth over a DEI-related bill, compelling the woman to take a swipe ...

“I don't know what is going on, but we have to have civil discourse. It's a subcommittee,” Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, said. “Name calling, attacking, trying to assault a legislator is not constructive." www.thegazette.com/higher-educa...

Lawmakers advance bill to study reviving Iowa State's VEISHEA More than a century after its founding, nearly 30 years after a fatal stabbing marred its revelry, and just over a decade since it was canceled, the historic Iowa State University celebration known as...

More than a century after its founding, nearly 30 years after a fatal stabbing marred its revelry, and just over a decade since it was canceled, the historic Iowa State University celebration known as VEISHEA could see a revival.
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Iowa lawmakers advance bill to freeze public university tuition for 5 years With only modest concern raised by a Board of Regents lobbyist and Democratic lawmaker, a House higher education subcommittee Tuesday advanced a bill that would prohibit Iowa's public universities fro...

W/ only modest concern raised by a regent lobbyist & Democratic lawmaker, a House higher ed subcommittee advanced a bill to bar Iowa’s public universities from increasing resident undergraduate tuition & fees by any amount for the next 5 years through '31.
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Supreme Court won't review order stopping state from removing Iowa City historical material While fighting a proposal to strip Iowa of its mandate to maintain a State Historical Society research center in Iowa City, a group of historians, donors, and community members are celebrating a small...

While fighting a bill to strip Iowa of its mandate to keep a State Historical Society research center in Iowa City, a group of petitioners are celebrating a victory w/ the Iowa Supreme Court, which left in place a ban on removing material from the research center. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Regents hire firm with Republican ties to lobby for University of Iowa this session Iowa's Board of Regents has hired a new Des Moines-based government and public affairs firm with ties to Republican heavy-hitters like Gov. Terry Branstad to lobby on behalf of the University of Iowa ...

Iowa regents hire a Des Moines-based government & public affairs firm w/ ties to Republican heavy-hitters like Gov. Terry Branstad & a history representing Saudi Arabia to lobby on behalf of the University of Iowa this upcoming session.
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Beloved University of Iowa religious studies professor Jay Holstein dies at 87 "He just had that kind of philosophical mind and artistic mind where he wanted to uncover truths about human life, or get students to ask questions about their meaning in life, or how to deal with som...

UIowa Religious Studies chair said Jay Holstein often got emails from students thanking him - some 10 yrs later. "It was after I had seen maybe 20 of these in one semester that I realized, whatever it is, there’s something really important going on here."
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Team Ukraine to battle Team USA in a 'friendly' food-fundraising women's wrestling dual in Coralville The Ukrainian women have had to look to and lean on the partnerships — and friendships — they've built around the world, including with "Wrestletown USA," aka Iowa City and Coralville, which they'll b...

The Ukrainian women have looked to the partnerships & friendships they’ve built around the world, including with “Wrestletown USA,” aka Iowa City. “This is like a breeze in a place where there is no oxygen,” Vorontsov said about the chance to train in Iowa.
www.thegazette.com/news/team-uk...

UIHC nurses allowed to use first name, last initial on badges following outcry Following outcry from hundreds of nurses and staff demanding more privacy in their patient interactions, University of Iowa Health Care has updated its photo ID badge policy letting employees share on...

Following outcry from hundreds of nurses and staff demanding more privacy in their patient interactions, University of Iowa Health Care has updated its photo ID badge policy letting employees share only their first name and last initial.
www.thegazette.com/health-care-...

UI to give University Heights access to Finkbine-adjacent land for new trails University Heights is primed to begin building a new recreational trail system across 36 acres of forested land north of Melrose Avenue — near the Finkbine commuter lot — after the Board of Regents on...

By allowing University Heights to build trails across 24 acres of UI-owned property, the Board of Regents will enable a full 36-acre trail project to proceed — charting routes across the forested area characterized by steep ravines & deciduous trees.
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Regents tap former dean as interim ISU president; share new president contract details Given incoming Iowa State University President David Cook won't begin his tenure until March 1, 2026, the Board of Regents this week will name recently retired College of Business Dean David Spalding ...

New Iowa State President David Cook won't be required to live in the campus' 124-yr-old presidential home flagged as having “health & safety concerns, poor energy efficiency, functional restrictions, & non-accessible conditions in some public spaces.” www.thegazette.com/higher-educa...

Regents to name former business dean David Spalding interim ISU president Given incoming Iowa State University President David Cook won't begin his tenure until March 1, 2026, the Board of Regents this week will name recently retired College of Business Dean David Spalding ...

Given incoming Iowa State University President David Cook won’t begin his tenure until March 1, 2026, the Board of Regents this week plans to name recently retired College of Business Dean David Spalding to serve as interim president for three months.
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Cornell University Dean Benjamin Houlton named as first ISU president finalist The first of two finalists to succeed Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen is Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.

The first of two finalists to succeed Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen is Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.
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UI Sailing Club must vacate Macbride Nature Recreation Area three years early As the University of Iowa winds down operations at the 485-acre Macbride Nature Recreation Area — having decided to terminate its 66-year lease of the property and with it the discovery, innovation, a...

The UIowa Sailing Club after 60 yrs must exit the Macbride Nature Rec Area by June 30, '26 - 3 yrs before the UI lease expires in '29.
“We thought we would have a little more time."
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One of four ISU president finalists drops out of contention One of the four finalists a search committee selected to become its next Iowa State University president has decided not to continue with the public portion of the interview process -- leaving just th...

1 of the 4 finalists a search committee selected to become its next Iowa State University president has decided not to continue with the public portion of the interview process — leaving just 3 in the running & on track to visit campus next week.
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Christopher Merrill stepping down after 25 years directing UI International Writing Program At the end of the year, Merrill will step down as IWP director and focus on writing and teaching as a member of the English Department faculty. Cate Dicharry, former executive associate director of op...

"Connecting on professional & personal levels w/ so many distinguished writers from around the world has really been one of the great joys of my life.”
But Merrill, 68, is ready to hand the reins to someone younger & more energetic.
“I'm a bit tired."
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U.S. attorney seeks pause in UI international student lawsuit due to shutdown A U.S. attorney is asking a federal court to pause proceedings in a lawsuit four University of Iowa international students filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — in part — because of...

A U.S. attorney is asking a federal court to pause proceedings in a lawsuit 4 University of Iowa international students filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — in part — because of the government shutdown and frozen funds.
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UIHC nurses speak out about about badge policy requiring full names, no stickers University of Iowa Health Care administrators say they're "evaluating our badge naming practices based on employee feedback and evolving industry standards" after 500-plus nurses and staff covered the...

UIowa is 'evaluating our badge naming practices based on employee feedback & evolving industry standards' after 500+ nurses & staff covered their names w/ stickers in protest.
'We've heard concerns from folks for a long time about privacy and safety.'
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Iowa lawmakers urge regent universities to be first to sign Trump's higher ed compact None of the nine campuses the Trump administration has asked to sign a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" have done so, but two conservative lawmakers in Iowa are urging the Board o...

None of the 9 campuses the Trump administration has asked to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” have done so, but conservative lawmakers in Iowa are urging the Board of Regents to be the 1st.
“Iowa has a chance to be a leader.”
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Regent Barker's U.S. assistant secretary service on hold due to shutdown Conservative Iowa regent David Barker on Tuesday was confirmed to his presidential appointment as assistant secretary for postsecondary education -- although Barker said he can't be sworn in until the...

IA regent David Barker has been confirmed as asst. secretary for postsecondary ed — though Barker said he can’t be sworn in until the “Schumer shutdown” ends.
In the meantime, he’ll keep serving as a regent.

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Historians, professors, donors sue over closure of State Historical Society's Iowa City facility Seventeen historians, archivists, professors, authors, and donors with decades of public service are suing the State Historical Society of Iowa for haphazardly and without public input closing its Iow...

'Without public input or a clear plan, state officials have begun dismantling the Iowa City archive, laying off staff, and removing collections — many of which were donated under the condition that they remain accessible in Iowa City.'
www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...

Iowa State University fires employee who posted: Charlie Kirk 'got what was coming' A week after the Board of Regents met for three and a half hours in closed session to discuss university employees who made inflammatory social media posts about the fatal shooting of conservative act...

Iowa State fires employee who wrote on social media that Charlie Kirk 'got what was coming' -- following widespread condemnation of the post, including from high-profile conservatives.
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Conservative law firm leading investigation into undercover DEI videos at UI, ISU Eight weeks after the University of Iowa placed on paid administrative leave two employees seen in undercover videos discussing the campus' compliance with state DEI laws — including one who said the ...

The contract Iowa regents signed w/ a conservative law firm to investigate the universities DEI practices includes a $700K commitment over 3 phases for an anticipated 1,120 billable hours, or $625 per hour.
www.thegazette.com/article/cons...

UI drops out of top 100 in new U.S. News national college rankings The University of Iowa, for the first time since being included in the U.S. News & World Report's annual best college rankings in 2004, has fallen out of the top 100 universities nationally, dropping ...

The University of Iowa for the first time since being included in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual best college rankings in 2004 has fallen out of the top 100 universities nationally, dropping four spots from No. 98 last year to No. 102.
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Gov. Reynolds suggested appointees for new UI Center for Intellectual Freedom Despite strident pushback from its sole Democrat, Iowa's Board of Regents is on track to approve an inaugural 26 advisory council members for a new legislative-mandated University of Iowa Center for I...

Re: new University of Iowa Center of Intellectual Freedom Council, regent said, “We have 2 women out of 26 ... We get 2 women? It doesn't even make sense why we would only have 2 women.” And, “Did you say there are 3 Democrats?”
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Lawmakers demand regents fire ISU employee who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death When the Board of Regents convenes in Cedar Falls this week, they'll meet in closed session to discuss university employees who made inflammatory online posts following the assassination of right-wing...

“Each instance of social media posts w/ cheers, taunting & vile glee is more disturbing than the last,” IA Republican lawmakers wrote in demanding termination. “Such behavior is sickening.”
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'Innovative collaboration' will allow UNI ROTC to stay open as 'extension unit' After announcing earlier this summer plans to close its University of Northern Iowa-based ROTC unit, the U.S. Army has changed course — allowing UNI's ROTC program to remain in Cedar Falls under a new...

In an about-face from plans to close its University of Northern Iowa-based ROTC unit, the Army will allow it to stay open as an extension unit of the University of Iowa’s ROTC program.
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Emails shed light on UI decision to exit Macbride Nature Recreation Area For weeks and months last fall, according to emails obtained by The Gazette through an open records request, University of Iowa administrators, staff, committee and community members discussed a range...

“The project to fix this road as it needs to be is on hold,” UIowa VP wrote of the Macbride Nature Recreation Area - before a review on whether to exit the lease. “But if we can patch until we are no longer managing MNRA, we should keep it operational.”https://
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Regents ignore pleas for changes to new policy preventing 'indoctrination' On the eve of a Board of Regents vote to change its academic freedom and class content policies to satisfy legislative concerns about "indoctrination," the national Foundation for Individual Rights an...

Iowa regent on new academic freedom policy:
“I’m not afraid of whacko wokeness if my conservative views are presented as well. I’m confident our values can prevail if presented fairly.”
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After trademark battle, UI Dance Marathon and others can use 'For The Kids' A former Dance Marathon volunteer who spent years raising money "for the kids" has won the right for philanthropic organizations nationally – including the University of Iowa's Dance Marathon -- to re...

A Dance Marathon volunteer who spent years raising money “for the kids” has won the right for philanthropic organizations nationally — including UIowa’s Dance Marathon — to use that phrase again after filing a petition to cancel Penn State’s FTK trademark.
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