Iowa lawmakers advanced legislation that would eliminate the sole voting student seat on the Iowa Board of Regents and replace it with a governor‑appointed regent. The House higher education subcommittee moved the bill forward, proposing a ninth gubernatorial appointee and seven new nonvoting positions including three student seats. The proposal also includes new powers and mandates for the board: post‑tenure review, approval standards for new academic programs, restrictions on faculty governance, and a legislative override for board and university expenditures. Sponsors framed the changes as enhancing oversight and accountability; critics say they politicize campus governance and strip student representation. If enacted, the bill would reshape governance across Iowa’s public four‑year universities—the University of Iowa, Iowa State, and University of Northern Iowa—raising questions about academic independence, faculty shared governance, and the role of students in trustee decisions.