262.9 Powers and duties.

The board shall:

1. Each even-numbered year elect, from its members, a president of the board, who shall serve for two years and until a successor is elected and qualified.

2. Elect a president of each of the institutions of higher learning; a superintendent of each of the other institutions; a treasurer and a secretarial officer for each institution annually; professors, instructors, officers, and employees; and fix their compensation. Sections 279.12 through 279.19 and section 279.27 apply to employees of the Iowa braille and sight saving school and the state school for the deaf, who are licensed pursuant to chapter 272. In following those sections in chapter 279, the references to boards of directors of school districts shall be interpreted to apply to the board of regents.

3. Make rules for admission to and for the government of said institutions, not inconsistent with law.

4. Manage and control the property, both real and personal, belonging to the institutions.

5. Purchase or require the purchase of, when the price is reasonably competitive and the quality as intended, soybean-based inks. All inks purchased that are used internally or are contracted for by the board shall be soybean-based to the extent formulations for such inks are available.

a. The department of natural resources shall review the procurement specifications currently used by the board to eliminate, wherever possible, discrimination against the procurement of products manufactured with soybean-based inks.

b. The department of natural resources shall assist the board in locating suppliers of recycled content products and soybean-based inks and collecting data on recycled content and soybean-based ink purchases.

c. The board, in conjunction with the department of natural resources, shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

d. The department of natural resources shall cooperate with the board in all phases of implementing this subsection.

6. The board shall, whenever technically feasible, purchase and use degradable loose foam packing material manufactured from grain starches or other renewable resources, unless the cost of the packing material is more than ten percent greater than the cost of packing material made from nonrenewable resources. For the purposes of this subsection, “packing material” means material, other than an exterior packing shell, that is used to stabilize, protect, cushion, or brace the contents of a package.

7. Purchase and use recycled printing and writing paper, with the exception of specialized paper when no recyclable product is available, in accordance with the schedule established in section 8A.315; establish a wastepaper recycling program for all institutions governed by the board in accordance with recommendations made by the department of natural resources and the requirements of section 8A.329; shall, in accordance with the requirements of section 8A.311, require product content statements and compliance with requirements regarding procurement specifications; and shall comply with the requirements for the purchase of lubricating oils and industrial oils as established pursuant to section 8A.316.

8. Acquire real estate for the proper uses of institutions under its control, and dispose of real estate belonging to the institutions when not necessary for their purposes. The disposal of real estate shall be made upon such terms, conditions, and consideration as the board may recommend. If real estate subject to sale has been purchased or acquired from appropriated funds, the proceeds of such sale shall be deposited with the treasurer of state and credited to the general fund of the state. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund of the state a sum equal to the proceeds so deposited and credited to the general fund of the state to the state board of regents, which may be used to purchase other real estate and buildings and for the construction and alteration of buildings and other capital improvements. All transfers shall be by state patent in the manner provided by law. The board is also authorized to grant easements for rights-of-way over, across, and under the surface of public lands under its jurisdiction when in the board’s judgment such easements are desirable and will benefit the state of Iowa.

9. Accept and administer trusts and may authorize nonprofit foundations acting solely for the support of institutions governed by the board to accept and administer trusts deemed by the board to be beneficial. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 633.63, the board and such nonprofit foundations may act as trustee in such instances.

10. Direct the expenditure of all appropriations made to said institutions, and of any other moneys belonging thereto, but in no event shall the perpetual funds of the Iowa state university of science and technology, nor the permanent funds of the university of Iowa derived under Acts of Congress, be diminished.

11. Collect the highest rate of interest, consistent with safety, obtainable on daily balances in the hands of the treasurer of each institution.

12. With consent of the inventor and in the discretion of the board, secure letters patent or copyright on inventions of students, instructors, and officials, or take assignment of such letters patent or copyright and may make all necessary expenditures in regard thereto. The letters patent or copyright on inventions when so secured shall be the property of the state, and the royalties and earnings thereon shall be credited to the funds of the institution in which such patent or copyright originated.

13. Perform all other acts necessary and proper for the execution of the powers and duties conferred by law upon it.

14. Grant leaves of absence with full or partial compensation to staff members to undertake approved programs of study, research, or other professional activity which in the judgment of the board will contribute to the improvement of the institutions. Any staff member granted such leave shall agree either to return to the institution granting such leave for a period of not less than two years or to repay to the state of Iowa such compensation as the staff member shall have received during such leave.

15. Lease properties and facilities, either as lessor or lessee, for the proper use and benefit of said institutions upon such terms, conditions, and considerations as the board deems advantageous, including leases with provisions for ultimate ownership by the state of Iowa, and to pay the rentals from funds appropriated to the institution for operating expenses thereof or from such other funds as may be available therefor.

16. In its discretion employ or retain attorneys or counselors when acting as a public employer for the purpose of carrying out collective bargaining and related responsibilities provided for under chapter 20. This subsection shall supersede the provisions of section 13.7.

17. a. In its discretion, adopt rules relating to the classification of students enrolled in institutions of higher education under the board who are residents of Iowa’s sister states as residents or nonresidents for fee purposes.

b. (1) Adopt rules to classify as residents for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, qualified veterans and qualified military persons and their spouses and dependent children who are domiciled in this state while enrolled in an institution of higher education under the board. A spouse or dependent child of a military person or veteran shall not be deemed a resident under this paragraph “b” unless the qualified military person or qualified veteran meets the requirements of subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (b) or (c), as appropriate.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph “b”, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Dependent child” means a student who was claimed by a qualified military person or qualified veteran as a dependent on the qualified military person’s or qualified veteran’s internal revenue service tax filing for the previous tax year.

(b) “Qualified military person” means a person on active duty in the military service of the United States who is stationed in this state or at the Rock Island arsenal. If the qualified military person is transferred, deployed, or restationed while the person’s spouse or dependent child is enrolled in an institution of higher education under the control of the board, the spouse or dependent child shall continue to be classified as a resident provided the spouse or dependent child maintains continuous enrollment.

(c) “Qualified veteran” means a person who meets the following requirements:

(i) Is eligible for benefits, or has exhausted the benefits, under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

(ii) Is domiciled in this state, or has resided in this state for at least one year or sufficient time to have filed an Iowa tax return in the preceding twelve months.

18. In issuing bonds or notes under this chapter, chapter 262A, chapter 263A, or other provision of law, select and fix the compensation for, through a competitive selection procedure, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, banks, underwriters, insurers, and other employees and agents which in the board’s judgment are necessary to carry out the board’s intention. Prior to the initial selection, the board shall establish a procedure which provides for a fair and open selection process including but not limited to the opportunity to present written proposals and personal interviews. The board shall maintain a list of firms which have requested to be notified of requests for proposal. The selection criteria shall take into consideration, but are not limited to, compensation, expenses, experience with similar issues, scheduling, ability to provide the services of individuals with specific knowledge in the relevant subject matter and length of engagement. The board may waive the requirements for a competitive selection procedure for any specific employment upon adoption of a resolution of the board stating why the waiver is in the public interest and shall provide the executive council with written notice of the granting of any such waiver.

19. a. Not less than thirty days prior to action by the board on any proposal to increase tuition, fees, or charges at one or more of the institutions of higher education under its control, send written notification of the amount of the proposed increase including a copy of the proposed tuition increase docket memorandum prepared for its consideration to the presiding officers of the student government organization of the affected institutions. The final decision on an increase in tuition or mandatory fees charged to all students at an institution for a fiscal year shall be made at a regular meeting and shall be reflected in a final docket memorandum that states the estimated total cost of attending each of the institutions of higher education under the board’s control. The regular meeting shall be held in Ames, Cedar Falls, or Iowa City and shall not be held during a period in which classes have been suspended for university holiday or break.

b. Authorize, at its discretion, each institution of higher education to retain the student fees and charges it collects to further the institution’s purposes as authorized by the board. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, student fees and charges, as defined in section 262A.2, shall not be considered repayment receipts as defined in section 8.2.

c. Prohibit the designation of a portion of the tuition moneys collected from resident undergraduate students by institutions of higher education governed by the board for use for student aid purposes. However, such institutions may designate that a portion of the tuition moneys collected from nonresident students be used for such purposes.

20. Adopt policies and procedures for the use of telecommunications as an instructional tool at its institutions. The policies and procedures shall include but not be limited to policies and procedures relating to programs, educational policy, practices, staff development, use of pilot projects, and the instructional application of the technology.

21. Establish a hall of fame for distinguished graduates at the Iowa braille and sight saving school and at the Iowa school for the deaf.

22. Assist a nonprofit organization located in Sioux City in the creation of a northwest Iowa regents resource center comparable to the southwest Iowa regents resource center located in Council Bluffs. The purpose of the Sioux City regents resource center shall be to create postsecondary education opportunities for students living in northwest Iowa.

23. Direct the administration of the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program as established in section 261.101 for the institutions under its control.

24. Develop a policy and adopt rules relating to the establishment of tuition rates which provide a predictable basis for assessing and anticipating changes in tuition rates.

25. Develop a policy requiring oral communication competence of persons who provide instruction to students attending institutions under the control of the board. The policy shall include a student evaluation mechanism which requires student evaluation of persons providing instruction on at least an annual basis. However, the board shall establish criteria by which an institution may discontinue annual evaluations of a specific person providing instruction. The criteria shall include receipt by the institution of two consecutive positive annual evaluations from the majority of students evaluating the person.

26. Develop a policy relating to the teaching proficiency of teaching assistants which provides a teaching proficiency standard, instructional assistance to, and evaluation of persons who provide instruction to students at the higher education institutions under the control of the board.

27. Explore, in conjunction with the department of education, the need for coordination between school districts, area education agencies, state board of regents institutions, and community colleges for purposes of delivery of courses, use of telecommunications, transportation, and other similar issues. Coordination may include but is not limited to coordination of calendars, programs, schedules, or telecommunications emissions. The state board shall develop recommendations as necessary, which shall be submitted in a report to the general assembly on a timely basis.

28. Develop and implement a written policy, which is disseminated during registration or orientation, addressing the following four areas relating to sexual abuse:

a. Counseling.

b. Campus security.

c. Education, including prevention, protection, and the rights and duties of students and employees of the institution.

d. Facilitating the accurate and prompt reporting of sexual abuse to the duly constituted law enforcement authorities.

29. Authorize the institutions of higher learning under the board to charge an interest rate, not to exceed the prime rate plus six percent, on delinquent bills. However, the board shall prohibit the institutions from charging interest on late tuition payments and room and board payments if financial aid payments to students enrolled in the institutions are delayed by the lending institution.

30. Direct the institutions of higher education under its control to adopt a policy to offer not less than the following options to a student who is a member, or the spouse of a member if the member has a dependent child as defined in subsection 17, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (a), of the Iowa national guard or reserve forces of the United States and who is ordered to national guard duty or federal active duty:

a. Withdraw from the student’s entire registration and receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees.

b. Make arrangements with the student’s instructors for course grades, or for incompletes that shall be completed by the student at a later date. If such arrangements are made, the student’s registration shall remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees shall be assessed for the courses in full.

c. Make arrangements with only some of the student’s instructors for grades, or for incompletes that shall be completed by the student at a later date. If such arrangements are made, the registration for those courses shall remain intact and tuition and mandatory fees shall be assessed for those courses. Any course for which arrangements cannot be made for grades or incompletes shall be considered dropped and the tuition and mandatory fees for the course refunded.

31. Develop a policy, not later than August 1, 2003, that each institution of higher education under the control of the board shall approve, institute, and enforce, which prohibits students, faculty, and staff from harassing or intimidating a student or any other person on institution property who is wearing the uniform of, or a distinctive part of the uniform of, the armed forces of the United States. A policy developed in accordance with this subsection shall not prohibit an individual from wearing such a uniform on institution property if the individual is authorized to wear the uniform under the laws of a state or the United States. The policy shall provide for appropriate sanctions.

32. Establish a research triangle, defined by the three institutions of higher learning under the board’s control, and clearinghouse for purposes of sharing the projects and results of kindergarten through grade twelve education technology initiatives occurring in Iowa’s school districts, area education agencies, community colleges, and other higher education institutions, with the education community within and outside of the state. Dissemination of and access to information regarding planning, financing, curriculum, professional development, preservice training, project implementation strategies, and results shall be centralized to allow school districts from across the state to gain ideas from each other regarding the integration of technology in the classroom.

33. In consultation with the state board of education, establish and enter into a collective statewide articulation agreement with the community colleges established pursuant to chapter 260C, which shall provide for the seamless transfer of academic credits from a completed associate of arts or associate of science degree program offered by a community college to a baccalaureate degree program offered by an institution of higher education governed by the board. The board shall also do the following:

a. Require each of the institutions of higher education governed by the board to identify a transfer and articulation contact office or person, publicize transfer and articulation information and the contact office or person, and submit the contact information to the board for publication on its articulation internet site.

b. Develop, in collaboration with the boards of directors of the community colleges, a systematic process for expanding academic discipline and meetings between the community college faculty and faculty of the institutions of higher education governed by the board. The board shall conduct and jointly administer with the boards of directors of the community colleges four program and academic discipline meetings each academic year for the purpose of enhancing alignment between course content and expectations at the community colleges and institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents.

c. Develop criteria to prioritize core curriculum areas and create or review transition guides for the core curriculum areas.

d. Include on its articulation internet site course equivalency and transition guides for each of the institutions of higher education governed by the board.

e. Jointly, with the boards of directors of the community colleges, select academic departments in which to articulate first-year and second-year courses through faculty-to-faculty meetings in accordance with paragraph “b”. However, course-to-course equivalencies need not occur in an academic discipline when the board and the community colleges jointly determine that course content is incompatible.

f. Promote greater awareness of articulation-related activities, including the articulation internet site maintained by the board and articulation agreements in which the institutions participate.

g. Facilitate additional opportunities for individual institutions to pursue program articulation agreements for community college career and technical education programs and programs of study offered by the institutions of higher education governed by the board.

h. Develop and implement by January 1, 2012, a process to examine a minimum of eight new community college associate of applied science degree programs for which articulation agreements between the community colleges and the institutions of higher education governed by the board would serve students’ continued academic success in those degree programs.

i. Prepare, jointly with the department of education and the liaison advisory committee on transfer students, and submit by January 15 annually to the general assembly, an update on the articulation efforts and activities implemented by the community colleges and the institutions of higher education governed by the board.

34. Submit its annual budget request broken down by budget unit.

35. Annually, by October 1, submit in a report to the general assembly the following information for the previous fiscal year:

a. Total revenue received from each local school district as a result of high school students enrolled in courses under the postsecondary enrollment options program at the institutions of higher learning under the board’s control.

b. Unduplicated headcount of high school students enrolled in courses under the postsecondary enrollment options program at the institutions of higher learning under the board’s control.

c. Total credits earned by high school students enrolled in courses under the postsecondary enrollment options program at the institutions of higher learning under the board’s control, broken down by degree program.

d. The compensation and benefits paid to the members of the board pursuant to section 7E.6.

e. The contracted salary and benefits and any other expenses related to support for governmental affairs efforts, including expenditures for liaisons and lobbying activities for the board and its institutions.

f. The contracted salaries, including but not limited to bonus wages and benefits, including but not limited to annuity payments or any other benefit covered using state funds of any kind for administrators of the institutions governed by the board.

36. Implement continuous improvement in every undergraduate program offered by an institution of higher education governed by the board.

a. A continuous improvement plan shall be developed and implemented built upon the results of the institution’s student outcomes assessment program using the following phase-in timeline:

(1) For each course with typical annual enrollment of three hundred or more, whether in one or multiple sections, a continuous improvement plan shall be developed and implemented beginning in the fall semester of 2013.

(2) For each course with typical annual enrollment of two hundred or more but less than three hundred, whether in one or multiple sections, a continuous improvement plan shall be developed and implemented beginning in the fall semester of 2014.

(3) For each course with a typical annual enrollment of one hundred or more but less than two hundred, whether in one or multiple sections, a continuous improvement plan shall be developed and implemented beginning in the fall semester of 2015.

b. For each undergraduate course, the institution shall collect and use the results of formative and summative assessments in its continuous improvement plan. The board shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of the plans and shall submit an executive summary of its findings and recommendations in its annual strategic plan progress report, a copy of which shall be submitted to the general assembly.

37. Develop and implement a consistent written policy for an employee who in the scope of the person’s employment responsibilities examines, attends, counsels, or treats a child to report suspected physical or sexual abuse. The policy shall include an employee’s reporting responsibilities. The reporting responsibilities shall designate the time, circumstances, and method for reporting suspected child abuse to the administration of the institution of higher learning and reporting to law enforcement. Nothing in the policy shall prohibit an employee from reporting suspected child abuse in good faith to law enforcement.

38. a. Beginning December 15, 2015, annually file a report with the governor and the general assembly providing information and statistics for the previous five academic years on the number of students who are veterans per year who received education credit for military education, training, and service, that number as a percentage of veterans known to be enrolled at the institution, the average number of credits received by students, and the average number of credits applied towards the award or completion of a course of instruction, postsecondary diploma, degree, or other evidences of distinction.

b. For purposes of this subsection, “veteran” means a veteran as defined in section 35.1 or a member of the reserve forces of the United States or the national guard as defined in section 29A.1 who has served at least one year of the member’s commitment and is eligible for or has exhausted federal veterans education benefits under 38 U.S.C. ch. 30, 32, 33, or 36 or 10 U.S.C. ch. 1606 or 1607, respectively.

1. [S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

2. [R60, §1739, 2157, 2158, 2162; C73, §1614, 1685, 1686, 1690; C97, §2654, 2676, 2723; S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

3. [C97, §2676; S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

4. [S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

6. [S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

7. [S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

8. [C51, §1017, 1018; R60, §1938; C73, §1599, 1617; C97, §2638, 2666; S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

9. [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

10. [S13, §2682-j; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

11. [C35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

12. [S13, §2682-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

13. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

14. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §262.9]

15. [C79, 81, §262.9]

86 Acts, ch 1245, §844; 86 Acts, ch 1246, §125; 87 Acts, ch 191, §1; 87 Acts, ch 207, §6; 87 Acts, ch 233, §464, 465; 88 Acts, ch 1185, §2; 88 Acts, ch 1284, §64; 89 Acts, ch 265, §40; 89 Acts, ch 272, §23; 89 Acts, ch 319, §59; 90 Acts, ch 1237, §2, 3; 90 Acts, ch 1253, §24; 91 Acts, ch 29, §1; 91 Acts, ch 97, §36; 92 Acts, ch 1095, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1106, §2, 4; 92 Acts, ch 1246, §35; 93 Acts, ch 176, §39; 94 Acts, ch 1091, §16 – 20; 94 Acts, ch 1193, §21; 95 Acts, ch 44, §2; 95 Acts, ch 62, §3; 96 Acts, ch 1215, §41 – 43; 97 Acts, ch 212, §28; 99 Acts, ch 114, §16; 99 Acts, ch 121, §9; 2001 Acts, ch 39, §3; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §230; 2003 Acts, ch 179, §115; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §13

; 2003 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 1, §94, 133

[2003 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 1, §94, 133 amendment adding subsection 31 stricken pursuant to Rants v. Vilsack, 684 N.W.2d 193]

2004 Acts, ch 1086, §57; 2004 Acts, ch 1129, §1; 2005 Acts, ch 144, §1; 2005 Acts, ch 179, §82, 149, 150; 2006 Acts, ch 1152, §54, 57; 2007 Acts, ch 214, §32, 44; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §102; 2009 Acts, ch 158, §2; 2009 Acts, ch 168, §3; 2009 Acts, ch 177, §30; 2010 Acts, ch 1169, §5 – 7; 2010 Acts, ch 1183, §25; 2011 Acts, ch 20, §13; 2012 Acts, ch 1040, §6; 2012 Acts, ch 1072, §36; 2012 Acts, ch 1119, §27; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §257; 2013 Acts, ch 141, §17, 18; 2014 Acts, ch 1116, §33; 2015 Acts, ch 8, §3

Referred to in §15.108, 260C.14