Dive Brief:
- The presidents of Iowa’s three state universities, along with the state Board of Regents, are asking for $12.9 million from the state for the University of Iowa to help cushion the blow of a new performance-based funding model.
- If the new funding model is unchanged, it will decrease state spending on the university by $46.4 million over three years, and those funds would be shifted to the other two schools: $23.6 million to the University of Northern Iowa and $22.8 million to Iowa State University.
- The university presidents and regents sent a letter to state legislators earlier this week, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported.
Dive Insight:
The University of Iowa’s president, Sally Mason, presumably had to hold her nose while signing this letter, where she essentially is endorsing what could be devastating cuts for her school. Inside Higher Ed reported that some faculty members weren’t pleased with her participation in the letter. The new funding formula was adopted by the regents last month. It allocates 60% of state funding for the three schools based on their in-state student enrollments and 40% based on factors like on-time graduation rates, and access for minority students and students from low-income families. After the letter, Mason said that her university will need time to increase its enrollment, as directed by the regents, and the $12.9 million would help in the meantime.