DES MOINES Iowa

Iowa's two biggest public universities are helping to market credit cards to their students, an arrangement that generates millions of dollars for the schools' alumni organizations.

Both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University have signed deals with their privately run alumni associations in which they agree to promote Bank of America credit cards marketed directly to students, the Des Moines Register reported in a copyright story.

According to records obtained the Register, University of Iowa officials have also agreed to give the bank access to databases that include the mailing addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of students, parents and people who buy tickets to Hawkeye football and basketball games.

The school has also pledged to give the biggest-spending cardholders special access to university facilities, coaches and even student athletes.

Such practices are a part of a widespread trend among colleges and universities nationwide to form partnerships with for-profit lenders.

In Iowa, and many other states, the financial details of the partnerships are not publicized, despite the involvement of publicly funded universities.

Nationally, some have expressed concerns about these relationships.

"We're very concerned about these exclusive contracts that provide kickbacks to the universities," said Ed Mierzwinski of the Public Interest Research Group. "We want colleges to be responsive to their students."

Officials with the universities and their alumni associations say the relationships generate millions of dollars that benefit the schools and their students. They also say they've been forthright about their involvement.

"Whether you say 'kickbacks' or you say 'royalties,' we've been upfront with our constituency, and we share with them how we're using those dollars," said Jeff Johnson, president of the Iowa State University Alumni Association. "We have a commitment to student leadership and student scholarship."