President Wendy Wintersteen presented her first state funding request Nov. 28 to Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Iowa Department of Management director David Roederer (who develops the governor's budget recommendations) and members of their staffs. She was joined by her peers from Iowa's regent institutions.
Wintersteen pledged to leverage every tax dollar and tuition dollar "as efficiently and effectively as possible. It's our unwavering commitment to our students, their families and the taxpayers of Iowa."
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Wintersteen's presentation slides
For the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018, Iowa State's requests have not changed from those the state Board of Regents approved in September: $5 million in incremental operating funds, to be designated for resident undergraduate financial aid; and a building request of $100 million, spread over five years, to replace the state Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on the College of Veterinary Medicine campus.
Wintersteen noted that the VDL plays a critical role in securing Iowa’s $32.5 billion animal agricultural industry and received full accreditation earlier this month. However, in its report, the site visit team expressed significant concerns about the age of the facility, especially given the rapid growth of the lab. That combination could limit the lab's ability to respond to a large-scale animal disease outbreak, according to the report.
Wintersteen said the state's investment "will pay dividends for decades to come by helping secure one of Iowa's most important industries."
Her other messages focused on Iowa State's efficiency and its land-grant record of service in educating Iowans, conducting fundamental and applied research that improves lives, and extending innovation to the state and the world.
"As a land-grant institution, we derive our value by helping Iowans and the state be successful. This has been our mission for 160 years, and it is as relevant and critical today as it ever has been," she said.
In her first audience with the governor as ISU president, Wintersteen closed by saying, "I very much look forward to working closely with this administration to advance public higher education, research and extension in Iowa."
