Summer won't slow the state Board of Regents TIER review of its three universities, but it will bring a shift in priorities. Over the summer months, Deloitte Consulting, which is conducting the review for the regents, will focus primarily on Iowa State's administrative areas.
Some analysis of academic areas will continue during the next few months, but at a slower pace. With the return of many faculty, staff and students in the fall, consultants will beef up the academic side of the review, with special emphasis on broad university community participation in the process.
Phase 1
Deloitte consultants are eight weeks into the first phase of the review with two weeks remaining. In this data-collecting phase, consultants have conducted numerous interviews with faculty, staff and students while collecting ideas on reducing costs, increasing revenues and improving services.
Over the past week, teams have been meeting with "sounding boards" -- small groups of faculty, staff and students who are asked to both share and react to some of the ideas that are emerging though the review.
Phase 2
In phase 2, which begins this summer, consultants will sort through ideas for improving services or reducting costs and select some "potential opportunities" for in-depth, cost-benefit analysis.
Summer input encouraged
Suggestions on ways to improve Iowa State's programs, processes or policies are encouraged throughout the summer. Send your ideas to suggestions@iastate.edu.
About the review
The expressed aim of the TIER (Transparent, Inclusive Efficiency Review) process, launched by the regents in late March, is to look at administrative and academic operations at the three state universities and find ways to maximize resources, improve efficiencies and contain costs.
