University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson attended the May Staff Council meeting to provide an update and take questions from staff. Wilson thanked Staff Council for contributions to shared governance at UI. Wilson provided overviews in the areas of enrollment, student success, staff initiatives, health care, and additional topics of interest.  

Enrollment and Student Success 

• 5-year plan to grow to at least 33,000.  
• Guest numbers (12,635) and prospective student visits (18,006) are strong.  
• Students come from 99 counties, 46 states and DC.  
• UI is seeing a higher percent of out of state students, which has been a positive. 
• UI’s value proposition is offering the amenities of all Big 10 universities, but with a small university feel. This is a unique niche and one a lot of students are craving.  
• The Small-Town & Rural Students (STARS) College Network will help UI improve access and success for rural students. STARS is funded by $20 million from Trott Family Philanthropies.  
• 1 in 5 students at UI are first in family. 
• 17 students and alum selected for Fulbright. That puts UI #3 in Big 10 and #21 overall. 

Staff programs 

• Participation in the tuition assistance program has grown. Nonrecurring funds have doubled. Staff Council is advocating to make these funds permanent. Wilson asked SC provide data showing how many participants have remained at the university after taking classes. 
• 60% of employees are accessing well-being programs. Participation would be higher if more knew about the programs.  
• Usage is increasing for the Employee Assistant Program. Top clinical counseling demands are depression/anxiety, job stress, and marital relationships.  
• The Discover Your University initiative helps faculty and staff learn about the university and each other during normal working hours. Fall 2022 had 2 dates and just under 300 participants. Additional dates are planned for 2023.  
• Hawkeye Caucus was a success. 50 programs and 150 faculty, staff, and students participated. UI can show people outside Iowa City what the university is about.  

Recent topics 

• UIHC regularly has to turn away patients because there’s not enough patient beds. This is why UI is building a new tower around UIHC main campus and a clinic in North Liberty. Wilson asks people remember that as parking disruptions occur. Demand comes from all 99 counties.  
• 10 UI programs are in the top 10 in their categories in US News and World Report rankings. Nurse practitioner adult gerontology acute care, nurse anesthesia, printmaking, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, nurse practitioner pediatric primary care, clinical nurse leader, rehabilitation counseling, physician assistant, audiology.  
• Iowa Women’s Basketball success has grown interest in women’s athletics nationally. 
• UI will continue to focus on mental health. People must feel comfortable to seek help. 
• UI leaders worked with the Regents to address concerns in the legislature about DEI. Iowa is not alone. 20 other states have similar legislation focused on DEI. UI leadership will continue to educate the Board of Regents and legislature on what DEI looks like at UI and its importance. Staff can help enlarge the definition of DEI and equity. DEI incorporates more than race, ethnicity and gender. It includes people with a variety of religious views, rural/urban, political beliefs, disabilities and more.