Property purchase, parking rates are on regents' agenda

Parking permit increases, 2015-16 residence hall and meal plan rates, an Airport Road property purchase and a new degree program in early childhood education are on the ISU agenda when the state Board of Regents meets March 11 at the University of Iowa. Audio of all open sessions will be streamed live on the board's website. The agenda also is online.

Property purchase

Iowa State will seek board approval to purchase five acres and a building at 925 Airport Rd. for $1.4 million. Initially, it will meet some university long-term storage needs, and it may be used as a shipping/receiving facility to reduce traffic and congestion on campus. The large asphalt lot could be used to store seasonal rental vehicles, freeing up stalls in campus lots. The property is the former site of a John Deere implement dealership and is adjacent to a Central Stores storage facility.

Items to potentially be stored in the building include ISU Theatre props and costumes, which currently are stored in the Industrial Education Building (scheduled to be razed); and Reiman Gardens' Nature Connects LEGO exhibits between installations. Additional warehouse space also is needed for ISU Research Park growth, particularly the expansion of Harrisvaccines.

New bachelor's degree

The College of Human Sciences will seek approval for its proposed bachelor of science program in early childhood education and programming. It would be offered entirely online through the seven-university Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, and students would take courses at all seven schools. The program's primary focus is to prepare professionals to work as teachers or administrators in childcare programs (infant to 8 years old). Participants would not be licensed to work in public schools.

The program is being offered in response to a request from the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Defense to meet the educational needs of military service members and spouses who are interested in careers working with young children, and to better serve U.S. military installations. It's anticipated that most participants will be members of military families.

2015-16 parking rates

Parking permit prices, including the Memorial Union ramp, would go up $3 to $12 annually under proposed rates for the year that begins July 1. An hourly rate increase of 25 cents, for hours five and above, also is proposed for the MU ramp, with the daily (hourly) maximum rising to $11.50 (from the current $11). The board will vote on parking proposals at its April meeting.

Parking permit rates

*Includes residence department and Ames Lab staff
**Valid November-February

2015-16 residence/dining rates

The residence department's preliminary FY16 budget is based on student occupancy of 12,774, an increase of 537 students from this year. To accommodate student demand for housing beyond the existing permanent spaces, 329 beds will be offered in residence hall dens, and off-campus apartments operated by the department will expand to 1,454 beds.

As proposed, most residence hall and on-campus apartment rates would go up 3 percent on July 1. That's an increase of $112 to $216, depending on the building. The exceptions are a proposed 2 percent increase ($93-$113) at University and Schilletter Village apartments, and 8 percent increases ($464-$586) for off-campus leased apartments. Student meal plans would go up approximately 3 to 3.5 percent, depending on the plan selected.

The proposed increase for the most common double room (no AC) and meal plan (225 meals and $200 Dining Dollars per semester) is $240 (3.07 percent).

As proposed, the "door rate" in campus dining centers would go up 25 cents next year, to $9 for breakfast and $11 for lunch and dinner. The board will vote on residence and dining proposals at its April meeting.

Other items

In other business, Iowa State will:

• Seek approval to revisions for the 2015-16 general catalog. The changes include 75 title changes, 123 new courses and 195 dropped courses, for a net effect of 72 fewer courses.
• Submit the annual report (as of fall 2014) on student retention and graduation rates. The fall 2013 entering class had a one-year retention rate of 86.4 percent at ISU, 86.1 percent for the three regent universities, and 77.9 percent for public four-year colleges nationally. The six-year graduation rate for the fall 2008 entering class was 68.9 percent at ISU, 68.4 percent for the three regent universities and 49.7 percent for all public four-year colleges nationally.
• Submit the annual human resources report (calendar year 2014), which combines information on sick and vacation leave use, insurance and retirement programs, retirements, faculty salary comparisons and the regents' merit system.
• Submit the annual report (calendar year 2014) on campus safety and security.

Share your comments

Individuals have an opportunity to provide early input on agenda items at a public hearing Thursday, March 5 (6-7 p.m., MU Oak Room). Comments will be video recorded for board members.