Farrukh Bashir has been named associate vice president and director of University of Iowa Facilities Management. Bashir succeeds Lynne Finn, who will retire after a decade of service to the university. Bashir, assistant director of Facilities Management at the University of Minnesota, will begin on Feb. 2.

Brad Rohrer has been named the university’s next chief information officer and associate vice president. Rohrer succeeds Steve Fleagle, who will retire this spring after 40 years of service to UI. Rohrer, vice president for information technology at the University of Miami, will begin on Feb. 23.

As 2025 comes to a close, one thing is clear: artificial intelligence continues to evolve at a pace that’s hard to keep up with. The landscape is complex, the tools are multiplying, and the questions are big. Our goal as the AI Support Team is to help the University of Iowa navigate this space with confidence. We’re here to provide guidance, training, and hands-on support so that AI adoption is thoughtful, practical, and aligned with campus needs.

Secure bicycle parking permits are now available for purchase at Hawkeye Parking Ramp. The enclosed bike parking at the ramp offers secure storage for up to 50 bicycles with access permissions provided by University of Iowa ID cards. This storage option provides more security and weather protection.

As AI tools show up in more conversations, so do rumors. Some are harmless, but others can keep people from using supported tools or following data rules. This myth-busting guide clears up some common misunderstandings about AI at Iowa.

University of Iowa faculty and staff now can purchase a license for ChatGPT Edu, a campus-supported version of ChatGPT designed for higher education environments. This release reflects ongoing efforts by ITS to provide secure, well-governed generative AI tools that support academic, research, and operational needs.

Patient parking ambassadors will start Dec. 8 at Parking Ramp 4 to continue improving parking for patients and their families on UI Health Care’s university campus. On weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., patient parking ambassadors monitor ramp use, direct vehicles to appropriate parking locations, assist with basic wayfinding questions, and help connect patients with other resources.

Winter Break is just around the corner. The residence halls will close on Dec. 20 at noon, and re-open on Jan. 17 at 8 a.m. However, students are welcome to stay on campus if they’ve filled out an application by Dec. 10. Campus Safety remains fully open and operational throughout the break. As you wrap up finals and head out for a well-earned break, keep these simple tips in mind:

With winter weather returning to Iowa City, the University of Iowa is reminding both students and employees how weather-related operational decisions are made and communicated, and what resources are available to support safe travel and campus operations during winter conditions.

The East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) has announced that the 380 Express bus service will continue through 2029. The service's partnership with the University of Iowa provides discounted bus passes on the bus line between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.