University of Iowa Officials Back Transparency Plan: Daily Iowan Reader, February 1

UI officials back Regent Lang's transparency proposals

Two University of Iowa leaders say they support a proposal calling for greater transparency among the three state Board of Regents’ universities.

Regent President Craig Lang submitted a draft proposal last week outlining a revamped transparency policy for all regent schools, including the creation of a transparency officer. The proposal will be discussed at the regents’ meeting on Feb. 6.  

This proposal comes in the wake of criticism by local legislators and media outlets about the opacity of the regent universities’ administrative decisions.

“The number of recent news stories regarding the apparent lack of transparency at regent institutions is troublesome,” Lang said in the proposal.

The proposal outlines a plan to address these concerns and indicates that it should be ready for final consideration by March.

First, regent schools would install a transparency officer to report directly to the regents and consult the president on improving communications. The outline proposes that this role should come from within the university.

In addition, the regents would also establish a new, nine-member Transparency Task Force consisting of Iowa legislators, school representatives, and experts in the field of transparency.

UI officials appear to welcome the regents’ proposal.

“I think it will be beneficial for the institution,” said Mark Braun, the interim vice president for Strategic Communication. “I look forward to seeing what the task force comes up with. I think this is a worthy endeavor.”

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