The University of Iowa will change its vehicle rental operations from in-house Fleet Services to a contract with Hertz Car Rentals beginning March 16. The agreement will eliminate mileage fees and shift pickup locations.

This fall, renovations to Quad Green will create a new outdoor space on the west side of campus for relaxation and recreation while preserving pieces of the site’s history.

Chris Parker, manager, Facilities Management, and Courtenay Villhauer, F&O HR, were recently recognized with Staff Appreciation Awards at the 2026 Faculty and Staff Awards in May.

Over 500 students and staff at the University of Iowa and members in the Iowa City community came together to plant 2,000 seedlings for a Miyawaki Forest on April 24 and 25 in front of the UI College of Public Health building, after planting the state’s largest Miyawaki Forest in 2025.

The University of Iowa sought Iowa Board of Regents approval for construction and expansion of multiple UI Health Care facilities. Projects include a $7 million new facility for the UI’s Grounds Department and a $24 million expansion of the North Liberty Medical Center.

The University of Iowa’s historic old Art Building is being restored and is expected to reopen in fall 2026 after being damaged in the 2008 flood.

UI Cambus is piloting new safety equipment on two buses that is intended to help transit operators be more aware of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, and prevent collisions. The pilot will test how effective operators find the equipment and if it is a good fit for the transit system.

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.

The University of Iowa’s Cambus has been selected to receive $6,171,174 in grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Low and No Emissions Program. The funding will support the replacement of six buses that were purchased in 2008 and 2009, and were due for retirement by 2022, with new diesel-electric hybrid buses.