The University Governance Reform Act aims to amend the structure and functions of the Iowa State Board of Regents, which oversees public institutions of higher education. Key changes include the replacement of the student member with a ninth voting member appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, alongside the addition of seven ex officio, nonvoting members, including students from the three major universities and legislative members. The terms for voting members are set to four years, while legislative members' terms will expire on December 31, 2029. The bill also introduces provisions for the governor to disapprove expenditures by the board or institutions under its governance through a joint resolution.

In terms of the board's functions, the act mandates the development of policies for post-tenure reviews, prior approval for establishing new academic programs, and biennial reviews of academic programs with fewer than ten students and general education requirements. Additionally, it prohibits faculty senates or councils from exercising governance authority, ensuring they serve only in an advisory capacity. The board is required to establish committees for budget and finance, and athletics, with provisions for public access to meetings. The act also revises the definition of accrediting agencies within the context of public higher education, expanding the scope to include various types of accrediting bodies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.176, 262.1, 262.7, 262.2, 262.4, 262.5, 262.6, 262.8, 262.9, 262.11