Wondering what you might have missed while you were away from campus this summer?
Here are 12 stories to get you caught up.
Iowa Board of Regents extends UI President Barbara Wilson’s contract
The Iowa Board of Regents voted unanimously to extend UI President Barbara Wilson’s employment contract by two years, from 2028 to June 30, 2030. The contract extension followed the president’s annual evaluation, and Board President Robert Cramer praised Wilson for "knocking it out of the park," meeting benchmarks related to students, faculty, health care, and athletics. Read the meeting recap or watch his remarks on the Board’s YouTube channel.
UI will launch pilot program to expand writing across disciplines
The University of Iowa is building on its long-standing excellence in teaching writing and communication with the launch this fall of a new Writing Enriched Curriculum pilot program. The program represents an important step toward integrating writing and communication into every discipline and developing a model that ensures students who graduate from Iowa remain leaders in effective communication.
CNN ranks Iowa City No. 8 on America’s Best Towns to Visit 2026 list
Iowa City has long been a hub of literary work, with many successful authors attending the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, its UNESCO City of Literature designation, and being the home of many beloved bookstores. CNN recently ranked Iowa City No. 8 on this year’s list of America’s Best Towns to Visit for its love of literature and the other vibrant businesses that make this community a great place to live and experience.
Photo gallery: Savannah Bananas hit home run at Kinnick Stadium
Over the Fourth of July weekend, the Savannah Bananas rolled into town for two unforgettable sold-out Banana Ball games, transforming Kinnick Stadium into a baseball field unlike anything fans had ever seen. View this photo gallery of the full-scale party, with dancing baseball players, choreographed entrances, and nonstop entertainment.
New benefit alert: Pet care benefits available to eligible employees
Two new voluntary, employee-paid pet benefits are now available to eligible UI employees. Learn how the Pet Wellness Program and Pet Health Insurance can help you manage routine and unexpected veterinary expenses, and explore your options.
Barrett Thomas to be appointed senior vice provost
Barrett Thomas will be appointed senior vice provost in the UI Office of the Provost, recognizing his leadership and strategic contributions during the past year as associate provost for faculty and strategic operations. He will transition to the appointment as soon as a new associate provost for faculty is in place.
President Wilson explains UI’s budget priorities, challenges
University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson shared the university’s budget plans with the Iowa Board of Regents at its meeting on Wednesday. Tuition revenue remains strong, but rising costs are putting pressure on the budget. To manage expenses, the university is shifting some funding and combining certain administrative services. Watch her presentation on the Board of Regents’ YouTube channel.
UI advances plans for new field hockey facility, Carver-Hawkeye Arena renovation
The UI is seeking permission from the Iowa Board of Regents to plan two major athletics facilities projects: construction of a new field hockey facility adjacent to Grant Field that will enhance student-athlete support and a major modernization of Carver-Hawkeye Arena that will improve the fan experience. The board will consider the projects at its June meeting.
FY2027 P3 funding to support brain science, research infrastructure
The University of Iowa has allocated up to $15 million in P3 funding for fiscal year 2027 to support high-impact initiatives aligned with the university’s strategic plan. The funding will support one new interdisciplinary project focused on brain science, three key infrastructure projects, and additional investments in faculty hiring and retention.
UI Health Care to expand physician training using newly awarded federal funding
UI Health Care will expand physician training programs across the state following federal approval last week of Iowa’s Medicaid Graduate Medical Education supplemental payment program — a critical step in addressing Iowa’s growing physician shortage. The funding is expected to allow UI Health Care to train 76 additional physicians.
UI-led research team publishes first findings from TRACERS mission
A UI-led research team has published the first findings from TRACERS, a NASA-funded mission that received the largest external research award in UI history. The study offers a clearer look at how energy from the sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field and moves closer to our planet, marking a step toward better understanding and predicting space weather. Read more about the findings.
UI implemented six-month retention policy for AI chat history
On Aug. 3, the UI introduced a six-month retention policy for chat history in UI-supported AI tools, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Chat, and ChatGPT Edu. Learn what the change means for you, why it was implemented, and how to save important AI chat content for future reference.