President Benjamin Allen |
 |
Welcome to a new academic year at UNI. My wife, Pat, and I are excited to be at UNI and living in the Cedar Valley. During the summer, we've taken every opportunity to visit with students, faculty, staff and administrators to learn more about UNI's culture, challenges, opportunities, and strengths, and the broader community's needs. That effort will continue, as we are eager to serve as advocates about the strengths and needs of this great university to people outside the campus.
Returning students, faculty and staff are likely to notice the changes and progress evident in our facilities. The Innovative Technology and Teaching Center recently opened and the Business & Community Services building will also open later this year. The McLeod Center, home of the Robert J. McCoy Court, is due to open November 18. The Human Performance Center is scheduled to open in 2007 and renovation is underway on the Biology Botanical Center and the Physics Building. We hope Gilchrist Hall restoration can also begin this fall or next spring with construction completed in 12-18 months.
As I said when I accepted this position, the challenge is to secure the resources we need to continue to do what we do so well. While UNI’s state appropriation was increased this fiscal year, that level of funding does not come close to funding salary increases mandated by collective bargaining agreements negotiated on UNI’s behalf by the state, as well as other mandated cost increases. This left a $2 million operational shortfall that was made up through budget cuts and reallocations across campus. We are addressing how these reallocations will affect the campus, but we are confident we can still deliver the excellent teaching and learning environment for which UNI is famous.
This is a great university with a great story to tell. We expect this year's total enrollment to be about the same as last year—above 12,000. Our applications for admission to UNI have increased and every residence hall room is occupied. We've also started several very successful outreach efforts with lifelong learners, businesses and civic groups in the Cedar Valley and across the state. This tells us people have confidence in UNI and want to see us succeed.
We're proud that UNI continues to offer a world-class university education that one can experience in a very personal manner, setting the stage for lifelong achievement and community engagement.
Best wishes for a great year,
Ben AllenFall, 2006 |
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