Transparent Inclusive Efficiency Review (TIER)

Academic affairs response plan released
January 2016
Iowa State's TIER Academic Affairs Response Plan details activities already underway and planned in connection with the TIER efficiency study of academic processes.
Regents receive recommendations on academics-related cases
October 2015
Iowa's three regent universities need to set more aggressive growth goals for their distance learning programs -- 10 to 15 percent annual growth instead of the current 3, consultants said in preliminary recommendations to the Board of Regents. The regents received these presentations:
- TIER Efficiency and Transformation Review for Enrollment Management and e-Learning (PDF), Pappas Consulting Group
- Higher Education Scheduling PDF -- Iowa State's finding start on page 11), Ad Astra
Employee input is key piece of services assessment
February 2015
Some university employees will be invited in February to share their insights on service processes – in the areas of human resources, information technology and internal financial transactions – as part of the TIER review..
Town hall videos
- Oct. 13, 2014: Town hall video | Consultants' presentation
- June 24, 2014: Town hall video | Slide presentation
- April 1, 2014: Town hall video
Regents release report on phase one work
June 2014
The state Board of Regents Wednesday, June 11, released its report on the first phase of the Transparent, Inclusive Efficiency Review (TIER). The report describes areas reviewed and themes that emerged during phase one and describes some of the work that will occur during phase two. News article.
About the review
The Iowa Board of Regents selected the Deloitte Consulting to conduct an efficiency review of the three state universities (Iowa State, Iowa and Northern Iowa). The consultants will look at administrative and academic operations with the aim of maximizing resources, improving efficiencies and containing costs. The review begins this spring with public forums on each campus and could be completed by early next winter. Implementation of review recommendations will take longer.
Regents: We need to strengthen Iowa's legacy in higher education
March 2014
"It is important to note that the cost savings resulting from the efficiency study will be invested back into the universities," Regents Bruce Rastetter and Larry McKibben wrote in a March 23 op-ed in the Des Moines Register.
Letter from President Leath
March 2014
In a March 21 letter to faculty, staff and students, President Steven Leath noted that savings resulting from the efficiency review will be reinvested into programs that strengthen teaching and research and keep public education affordable to students and their families.