Diane Heldt, CR Gazette –
CEDAR FALLS – University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen on Wednesday said he will recommend to the state Board of Regents closure of the Malcolm Price Lab School in June as part of university budget cuts.
Allen said he plans to take the closure plan to the state Board of Regents soon for approval.
Allen held an afternoon meeting with the school’s faculty and staff. Media were not allowed into the meeting, but Allen met briefly with reporters afterward. Allen also had two evening meetings scheduled with Price Lab School parents to discuss the news.
Several school staffers were seen coming out of the meeting in tears.
UNI officials have spent months looking at ways to cut the budget, as state appropriations makes up less of the university’s funding and student tuition dollars make up more. UNI’s enrollment is 92 percent in-state students, who pay much less in tuition than do out-of-state students, putting UNI in a different situation regarding state budget cuts compared to Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.
More details about other university cuts, including to athletics and the UNI Museum, will be announced by UNI officials tomorrow afternoon. Cuts to academic programs won’t be announced yet tomorrow, because UNI leaders are still holding meetings regarding that process with the Faculty Senate and with United Faculty, the union that represents UNI faculty.
