In 1965, after observing the developing coordination patterns nationally and in the contiguous states, the State Board of Regents, the State Board of Public Instruction and the Iowa Association of Private Colleges and Universities launched a cooperative study of post-high school education in Iowa.

The governance and coordination committee from the study proposed the creation of a voluntary coordinating council representing "... about equally all three segments of post-high school education -- private, state, and area governing boards." It was proposed that this coordinating council be created by joint action of the Board of Regents, the Board of Public Instruction and the Association of Private Colleges.

In considering the Committee's recommendations, the board of directors of the study believed that the seeds of cooperation already existed among the various segments of post-high school education in Iowa to such an extent, that mandtory coordination was not necessary, and that it would be excessively expensive. The board of directors was convinced that the voluntary coordination recommendation was both feasible and workable and should be implemented at once by the official boards of the existing institutions.

The final report and recommendations of the coopertive study was distributed in February, 1967. In the subsequent six months, the study's recommendations with respect to a voluntary coordinating agencyy were approved by each of he three sectors comprising the study.

The first meeting of the Iowa Coordingating Council for Post-High School Education was held at the Hotel For Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa, September 22, 1967. The Coordinating Council had extensive discussion on the purpose and role of the Council at this first meeting, and it was moved, seconded, and approved that the four purposes developed by the Post-High School Study Committee and approvd by te member boards be adopted by the Council. Those purposes were:

1. Providing a means for systemic gathering of data and to make such data available in usable form to the colleges, their boards, and all other agencies in need of such information.

2. Making studies of problems, policies, curriculum, financing, facilities, and other factors which are pertinent to planning and development of post-high school education in Iowa.

3. Receiving information from boards and institutions concerning their problems, plans, and legislative requests.

4. Making recommendations to the governing boards and institutions and to the public for aid in the development of state-wide coordination.

Excerpt taken from "The Iowa Coordinating Council for Post High School Education: A Brief History of the Development and Early Years" by Robert J. Barak. "Documents about founding and early history," Iowa Coordinating Council for Post-High School Education records, University Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.