The University of Iowa recently launched an initiative to identify solutions for raising revenue and improving efficiency to take a proactive position ahead of further changes in higher education.
The university unveiled the Revenue and Efficiencies Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee (reSPARC) on Aug. 14, which is being implemented as part of its 2022-2027 strategic plan.
The UI is starting this work “from a position of financial health” so it can strengthen its current success amid increasing financial uncertainties, decreasing trust in higher education and a looming demographic cliff.
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“At Iowa, we have an opportunity to lead by being proactive rather than reactive,” said UI Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel in the release. “Instead of waiting for challenges to dictate our choices, we are creating structures and strategies that position us for continued success.”
Close to 100 UI employees, including faculty, staff and leadership, are being placed into teams with the goals of either developing plans for increasing revenue or identifying administrative efficiencies.
Each team will focus on a different aspect of campus and university functions, according to the reSPARC website, ranging from academics to financial operations, student enrollment and retention, philanthropy, information technology and more. Teams will bring their ideas to initiative leaders before moving to the university president and provost, who have the final say on if and how plans will be implemented.
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The website said there is are no plans for budget cuts or layoffs included in the reSPARC initiative, as it is being implemented as a proactive plan rather than a response to budget problems.
UI President Barbara Wilson said in the release that collaboration is a strength of the UI community, and the new initiative will allow people in 35 departments to generate ideas to "strengthen our mission while planning for the future.”
“Our goal is to create a pipeline of actionable, well-vetted ideas that will have a real impact,” Wilson said. “This is not about quick fixes — it’s about building a foundation for sustained growth and excellence.”
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This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: University of Iowa launches revenue and efficiencies action plan
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