Each February, we review the sabbaticals (or, as stated by the Iowa Board of Regents, “professional development assignments”) granted to the professors at the state’s three public universities: Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. For us common folk, a sabbatical may be used to take time off of work for a lengthy vacation. For these professors, the PDAs are used to do research, develop curricula, write books and create art. And other things.
Some of the requested PDAs are fascinating, others are head-scratching, and some actually garner curiosity about what the profs might learn. For the fiscal year 2027, there were 105 total requests at a taxpayer cost of $325,092. The bulk, $291,161, is from the University of Iowa. ISU has only $3,624, and UNI has $30,307. The Board of Regents has stated in recent years that the findings and accomplishments of these PDAs have resulted in millions of dollars in grants and external funding.
Iowa State University…