Iowa regents moving forward with tuition task force discussions

[TexasTowelie]

Iowans will get their first look in August at the new five-year tuition increases being proposed by each of the state's public universities.

With the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa receiving millions of dollars less in state funding next year, the Iowa Board of Regents have asked each institution to come up with a five-year plan for addressing long-term revenue needs.

Using phrases like "everything is on the table," “we’re going to throw things against the wall and see what sticks” and “we’re going to think outside the box,” regent leaders have said they are open to abandoning status quo when it comes to tuition models.

The regents released a schedule Friday for four "public stakeholder meetings" as part of the process.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/07/08/iowa-regents-moving-forward-tuition-task-force-discussions/459981001/

[progressoid]

1. "throw things against the wall and see what sticks

Why does this not instill any confidence in me.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. They are faced with rising costs and repubicans that wont

Give them any money. Its a red state. They have nothing and raising tuitions will only make thongs worse. A steady decline towards a bicostal USA that is forced to support a 3rd world midsection that offers nothing but bullshit.

[exboyfil]

3. They had a consultant come in to show them

how to save money. Spent big bucks for it, but little came from it. Here are some stories. Originally they said they could save up to $40 dollars.

Here the consultant is suing the regent so that documents of their inquiry are not released

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/higher-education/deloitte-suing-iowa-board-of-regents-to-keep-records-secret-20150803

Here is the Board of Regents demanding some level of accountability (finally)

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2014/10/08/regents-demand-deloitte-receipts/16892561/

Here the $40 M drops to $7 M before paying the consultants

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/higher-education/board-of-regents-efficiency-review-to-save-7-million-this-year-20151109

As far as efficiency review costs go, the board to date has spent about $5.4 million on consulting fees and expenses related to the project. The bill is expected to grow to at least $5.8 million — although the total could be higher once all reimbursement requests for things like food and travel are paid.

When comparing costs and savings to date, the net gain is about $1.6 million.

“So TIER is a success,” Braun said.

But the review is a success because they got $1.6 M in savings after deducting for consultant expenses (laughable because that number does not include the hours worked by the staff of the universities that had to work with the consultants, the fact that many of the proposals were already in the hopper, the fact that many of the proposals were definitely student unfriendly and hurt the core mission of the university.

But I am sure the consultants got to eat plenty of lobster on their expense accounts.