Lang
4/23/26
A faculty union leader at the University of Northern Iowa is speaking out against proposed changes to the Board of Regents’ policy manual.
One proposed change would require any search committee for a position that reports directly to a university president to include at least one sitting member of the board.
Chris Martin, president of the UNI faculty union United Faculty, spoke out against the proposed policy when it was discussed at Wednesday’s Regents’ meeting in Ames. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Martin expressed concern that such a move would send a message that the Regents want more control over who universities hire, in particular looking for someone who might be more inclined to answer to the board vs. the university for which they work.
Martin also took issue with the proposed creation of an Ombuds Coordinator position, which would be the point of contact for those who have questions or concerns related to a Regents’ university. The role is supposed to be neutral, but it comes with no guarantee of anonymity if the Ombuds Coordinator feels informing administrators serves the best interests of the board.
The Regents will vote on the proposed changes at their June 15th and 16th meeting at the University of Iowa.