The new school year has arrived.
University of Iowa students return to class on Monday, Aug. 25, motivated by lofty dreams and promises of camaraderie.
Here is what you need to know as the calendar turns to fall.
University of Iowa students met with tuition increase
The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved a tuition increase for University of Iowa students that takes effect at the start of the fall semester.
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Base tuition will rise $279 for resident and nonresident students and $350 for both resident and nonresident graduate students — the mandatory student fees will increase $60, from $1,997 to $2,057.
Unviersity of Iowa embattled in DEI investigation
The University of Iowa restructured its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office to comply with a 2023 order requiring the state's three public state universities to eliminate all staff DEI positions that are not necessary for the accreditation and to comply with state law.
A pair of employees are on administrative leave after appearing separately in "undercover videos" discussing the university's DEI practices.
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The first video, posted by Fox News on Tuesday, July 29, shows Drea Tinoco, Assistant Director of Leadership and Student Organization Development, explaining how the university adjusted its websites after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2435.
The second video released by Townhall on Thursday, July 31, features Cory Lockwood, senior associate director of the Iowa Memorial Union, describing how the school reframes DEI language.
The University of Iowa and the Iowa Attorney General's office launched an initial investigation on Wednesday, July 30, into the Fox News video, but it is unclear whether there is a separate investigation for the Townhall video.
There have been no updates in the investigation.
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While the University of Iowa has scaled back formal DEI programming, its strategic plan still emphasizes values like inclusion and community, framing them as essential to the University of Iowa's Strategic Plan's "Mission, Vision and Core Values."
The core values include "creativity, community, excellence, inclusion, and integrity."
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Of the university's 12 colleges, the Tippie College of Business is the only college without an accessible strategic plan or mission statement. The other 11 colleges echo the university's main statement.
Specifically, the Carver College of Medicine, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, College of Law mention terms like "an inclusive environment where every individual feels safe, valued, and respected."
Grant funding to support new UI projects
Tapping into its nearly $1 billion public-private partnership (P3) endowment fund, the University of Iowa plans to invest $15 million to support various projects across campus, anchored by a renovation and a new clinic.
The UI is investing $3 million to renovate the Performing Arts Annex (formerly the Old Museum of Art), which will become the home of the Department of Dance.
The university has unveiled a three-year, $642,896 project to create an exercise oncology clinic. The clinic will focus on "improving the health and quality of life for cancer survivors."
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The remaining $11.36 million in P3 funding will support "additional strategic plan initiatives throughout the year," according to a news release. The school will use $4 million to support the "High Impact Hiring Initiative," which aids recruiting and retaining "elite" faculty.
The university has not yet established a timetable for these projects.
What else is happening on the UI campus?
The Iowa Board of Regents approved "enabling work" for UI Health Care's new inpatient tower, which will make it the largest facilities project in state history. The 842,000-square-foot tower is part of the University of Iowa's 10-year facilities master plan.
The project includes razing three buildings within the tower's "footprint," including the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center, Hospital Parking Ramp 1, and the water tower on Hawkins Drive.
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The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center will be moved to the Health Sciences Academic Building, expected to finish in summer 2026.
Hospital Ramp 1 is being replaced by the newly-opened Hawkeye Parking Ramp near Kinnick Stadium, along with the under-construction five-level, 1,259-stall parking ramp between the College of Dentistry and Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
A larger tower near Carver-Hawkeye Arena will replace the water tower that overlooks Kinnick Stadium, adorned with a black Tigerhawk.
The UI expects to raze the three buildings in the fall.
The UI will also begin a $23 million project to renovate the Cambus Maintenance Facility, at 517 S. Madison St, funded by a Federal Transit Administration grant. Construction will begin in the fall and is expected to be complete in 2026.
The University of Iowa will begin to renovate and expand the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL), at 205 N Madison St., across from the chemistry building. The $28 million project is scheduled to begin soon and finish in 2027.
University of Iowa homecoming 2025
The University of Iowa homecoming football game is set for Saturday, Sept. 27 against the Indiana Hoosiers.
The iconic Homecoming parade will kick off at 5:45 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, in downtown Iowa City.
Other homecoming details have yet to be released.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What you need to know about the new University of Iowa school year
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