Board of Regents approve almost $60.4 million in UI capital improvement projects

At the April 24 Iowa Board of Regents meeting in Ames, the University of Iowa received Board approval for three capital improvement projects totaling approximately $60.4 million. Rod Lehnertz, senior vice president for finance and operations, presented the board with details concerning renovations and new construction relating to the College of Engineering, athletics department, and John Colloton Pavilion Burn Treatment Center. The College of Engineering was approved to begin the planning process of a new hydroscience research building on the Oakdale campus, for the purpose of consolidating research work related to its projects with canals, spillways, large rivers, dams and other related bodies of water. “This will consolidate some outdated spaces that we have associated with the modeling, which are generally large volumes of space with the equipment and water, that are needed to model different bodies of water at the project sites that they’re working on,” said Mr. Lehnertz. The facility will not only benefit the IIHR – Hydroscience & Engineering program, but customers and community members who seek the UI’s expertise on related matters, he added. Planning for the $32-$40 million project will begin immediately, and a budget and design will be available to the Board when the project is ready to go, he said. The Duane Banks Field stadium renovation, an estimated $5.5 million project, will construct a 2,365-square-foot team room clubhouse adjacent to the baseball stadium and the first base line home dugout. The clubhouse was an addition to a larger project proposed in October to update the stadium’s amenities, including increased capacity and improving ADA access and seating. “We had funding and cost concerns that led the athletic department to pull this back to the $5.5 million with this space, but then deliver the effort on a multiple phase basis, so we will continue to work on the improvements and modernization of the baseball stadium, and bring those back to the board in the future,” said Mr. Lehnertz. There are plans to upgrade lighting and replace turf in the future as well, but those items were not on the meeting docket, he added. The University also sought approval for a revised description and budget for the UIHC John Colloton Pavilion Burn Treatment Center. Bids for the project were higher than expected, totaling $14.9 million, up 10% from the initial budgeted $13,500,000. The primary cause of the higher bids related to the complexity of the project, said Mr. Lehnertz, because construction is having to occur in phases to maintain the existing burn treatment center’s operation. Mr. Lehnertz said multiple bids were evaluated to make sure “it was a market-sensitive bid.” Funding will be pulled from UIHC’s building usage fund, and the project will move forward this spring once approval for construction is garnered, with a finishing date of 2025.

UIHC to sell real estate to Washington County Hospitals & Clinics

The University of Iowa was also approved to sell a medical clinic facility located at 503 3rd St. in Kalona to Washington County Hospitals and Clinics (WCHC) for $425,000. The Kalona clinic was part of the bundled properties acquired through Mercy Iowa City’s bankruptcy acquisition in January, and the purchase price was based on appraisals from both WCHC and UIHC.

UIHC has a “close working relationship” with WCHC, said David Kieft, senior director of University Business and Real Estate, and provides specialty outreach services that include OBGYN, midwifery, urology, electrophysiology, dialysis, and emergency care for WCHC patients. Additionally, the University already has a primary care facility in Washington county in the city of Riverside. “This clinic and the people and patients of Washington County are best served if this clinic is operated by Washington County hospital,” said Mr. Kieft. In a March 27 press release, WCHC announced its intent to acquire the property. “We are proud of our 100-year legacy of providing healthcare services to Washington County and surrounding community residents,” said Todd Patterson, WCHC Chief Executive Officer. “Kalona is an important community in our primary service area, and we are excited for the opportunity to expand access to our outpatient services for its residents and a continued collaboration with UI Health Care.” The Kalona addition will add to WCHC’s growing facility portfolio, which includes a critical access hospital, Family Medicine Clinic, McCreedy Medical Clinic and Beans Pharmacy in Washington and a clinic in Columbus Junction.

University adds and moves programs

The board approved the University’s bid to add a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling and Behavioral Health Services in the College of Education, and to move the Department of Economics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the Tippie College of Business. “There’s a growing need in Iowa, particularly in rural communities, for bachelor-trained helping professionals,” said associate provost for Undergraduate Education and dean of the University College Tanya Uden-Holman, on the proposed degree, adding that data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) – which includes employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – show significant projected growth in new openings for bachelor-trained professionals in human services, case management, and substance abuse and behavioral disorders. The degree will equip students with skills that are applicable to various helping careers, complementing other human services and public health programs, and placing the degree in the UI’s College of Education will benefit from the expertise of their counseling and education faculty, UI’s request proposal stated. The degree program will have a “soft start” in fall 2024, with 60 students expected to enroll, increasing to approximately 150 by its fifth year, said Ms. Uden-Holman. The board also approved UI to move the Department of Economics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the Tippie College of Business. Currently, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the administrative home for the BA and BS degrees in Economics, while the Tippie College of Business is the curricular home. The change will give students the benefit of experiential learning and alumni connections that are unique to Tippie students, aside from support already provided by the Department of Economics. There will be no program changes, and one new academic advisor will be hired in Tippie’s Undergraduate Program Office to advise students in this major, the request proposal stated. “I think this is a good move. Tippie is clearly the right home for economics, and I hope this means really good things for the future of economics in Iowa,” said Regent David Barker.

UIHC provides update on Downtown Campus and rebranding efforts

Vice president for Medical Affairs and dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine Dr. Denise Jamieson gave the board an update on the Downtown Campus – formerly Mercy Iowa City – saying that its integration is continuing to move ahead smoothly, with the current major focus on the May 4 implementation of Epic, an electronic medical records system. “We’re taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure a smooth technical implementation of Epic, and ensure that our staff are well-trained to prepare for our go-live,” she said at the meeting.

UIHC has also been seeking input from stakeholders about the future of the downtown campus, which includes meeting with Downtown Campus employees and other stakeholders, launching the community advisory board, and engaging with community groups, such as the Northside Neighborhood Association. In addition, Dr. Jamieson said searches are underway to replace interim chief integration officer Deborah Berini and chief operation officer Emily Blomberg, both of whom took new positions in other parts of the Midwest. Ms. Berini’s last day will be May 10. Dr. Jamieson also touched on UIHC’s rebranding efforts. While the official name remains University of Iowa Health Care, the brand’s new logo says “Iowa Health Care,” and implementation starts May 4. The rebranding process will take several years to replace signs, letterheads and t-shirts aligned with the new logo.

Regents Bates and Rouse reelected to leadership positions

Board president Sherry Bates and president pro tem Greta Rouse were reelected to their positions, effective May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026, to a round of applause. President Bates was elected as interim president in February to replace former board president Michael Richards, who nominated her to take his place. Ms. Bates holds the distinction of being the second woman in the Board of Regents’ history to serve as president, the last being Mary Louise Petersen, who served almost 40 years ago from 1973-1981.