Thank you!

The 2018 Iowa Legislature adjourned on Saturday, May 5. Thanks to your support, the Legislature held UNI harmless from a mid-year cut of our state appropriations. You helped ensure UNI is able to maintain our strong emphasis on student success.

For next year, the Legislature appropriated a new lump-sum of $8.3 million to the Board of Regents for allocation to the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and UNI. The funds are to specifically support new strategic initiatives, meet enrollment increases, meet the demand for new courses and services, fund new but unavoidable or mandated cost increases, and support any other initiatives important to the core functions of the universities. The remainder of UNI's budget line-items are funded at the same level as our current budget.

UNI had also requested $36.2 million over three years to renovate and modernize our Industrial Technology Center to serve the workforce needs of Iowa industry and better prepare teachers to teach STEM and career and technical education (CTE) fields. While we worked hard to secure this funding, the Legislature did not appropriate the money. We've laid some great groundwork and are encouraging legislators and legislative staff to come to campus and tour the building in the hopes of securing this funding next year.

UNI will focus on building our enrollment back to levels that are in line with our facilities and the needs of the state. We are working to define and promote the attributes of UNI that make us distinctive as a regional comprehensive public university focused on the success of our students. In the year ahead, we will also continue to advocate for financial aid for UNI students and an investment in the renovation and expansion of the Industrial Technology Center. This work is essential for UNI to provide an affordable, high quality education that our students deserve.

Thank you for your commitment to UNI. Governor Reynolds has 30 days to sign or veto legislation. For more information, please read our government relations blog post.