A top Republican in the Iowa legislature suggests it’s time to appoint a new panel to spark changes at the state-supported universities. Jack Whitver of Ankeny is the president of the Iowa Senate.
The presidents of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa recently recommended seven percent hikes in tuition next fall. The nine-member Board of Regents has not yet voted to set tuition levels for next year — but Whitver says a commission could suggest changes that prevent “drastic increases to tuition” and save students money.
Members of the Board of Regents have an ongoing “tier” initiative seeking efficiencies in the universities’ operating budgets. In the 1990s, the so-called “Fisher Commission” appointed by then-Governor Terry Branstad recommended budget cutting in all levels of state government, including the state universities.
