President Benjamin Allen

UNI Today

Spring, 2009

Welcome back to campus and spring semester. We all look forward to longer days and, eventually, warmer weather!

Our nation, our state and our university are experiencing economic pressures. Even so, we can aspire to exceptional progress and achievement if we regard challenges as opportunities to exercise our abilities, imagination and resolve. Recent and forthcoming budget reversions present a formidable challenge, and I will continue to keep you apprised as events unfold. Budget updates will continue to be available at www.uni.edu/pres/budget/.

Financial conditions being what they are, the University of Northern Iowa remains dedicated to the priorities that will create and advance greater opportunity for all of the constituents we serve. Because the value of UNI’s educational currency is best measured by a high-quality student experience, our students come first. Elevating our undergraduate programs to ever-higher levels of achievement is the best way to ensure that UNI graduates will be prepared and inspired to have a positive impact on the world.

As the state leader in Pre-K through 12 education issues, UNI is helping to build a solid and secure future for Iowa and its citizens. By increasing our efforts to assist the state with social, cultural and economic development, we are working to establish Iowa as a state with an exceptional workforce, a high quality of life and integral function in the 21st century global economy.

On campus we are preparing for a number of significant events, including the welcoming of our new provost. We are very pleased that Gloria Gibson will be the UNI executive vice president and provost beginning in July. Currently dean of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences at Arkansas State University, she will bring to UNI a remarkable background in academic leadership, scholarship and community engagement. We look forward to her arrival.

A major initiative representing a new organizational approach to the enrichment of our campus will be launched with a Diversity Town Hall Meeting at Maucker Union, January 22. I will host this meeting along with the Diversity Council, headed by Vice President of Student Affairs Terry Hogan. To help achieve broad participation and support for campus diversity initiatives, the Council has formed a Diversity Advisory Committee, chaired by Doug Mupasiri, associate professor of mathematics. Please mark your calendars for 8:30 to 10 a.m., in the Maucker Ballroom, and plan to attend this very important meeting.

Most important, I encourage everyone to seize the opportunities before you this semester, even those that seem common. Quite often those can be the greatest. By engaging in as many opportunities for growth and success as possible, you can make this one of the most memorable and productive times of your life.

Benjamin J. Allen