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Letter from President Benjamin Allen

UNI’s summer academic schedule is in full swing and the campus community is energized by preparations for several major events shared by the university and the community. The largest of these is RAGBRAI’s overnight stay at UNI July 25. Several thousand people, including seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, will be welcomed to campus for this magnificent celebration.

Planning is also underway for the openings and dedications this fall of the Business and Community Services Building, Physics Building, Human Performance Center, Hall of Fame Connector and Biology Botanical Center. The academic enhancements, economic development opportunities and university/community partnerships that these facilities represent for students, the Cedar Valley and the state of Iowa are very significant.

Each of these facilities directly serves the three key priorities we established for the university in the past year, specifically, to move undergraduate education at UNI from good to great, to become the state leader in Pre-K through 12 issues and to provide even greater economic, cultural and social value for Iowans.

As you are aware, UNI already has a terrific competitive advantage in terms of excellence in undergraduate education. As the premier undergraduate institution in the state, UNI will meet the challenge of moving from good to great by lifting our star programs to levels of national excellence and by providing all undergraduate students with enhanced opportunities in research, international experience, service learning and entrepreneurship.

Last spring, the first of several early childhood education summits to be hosted by UNI initiated important dialogue on how to establish effective voluntary pre-K programs for all 4-year-olds in Iowa. Events such as these, a sharper focus on teacher education across colleges and a leadership role in the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, mathematics and science education collaborative initiative with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, will help establish UNI as a Top 10 University for education issues and teacher training.

UNI’s commitment to research and development of sustainable and renewable energy sources remains strong, and we’re pleased that Gov. Culver chose UNI’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education for signing the Power Fund Appropriations Bill. This is but one area in which we can help build stronger business/community partnerships while educating and graduating students who stay in Iowa for new opportunities that arise here. We are in the process of forming strategies to further develop and promote our outreach programs that do much to improve the quality of life for all Iowans.

We have a great deal of work to do and many ideas to build on. I am extremely pleased at the progress we’ve made in the past year and hope that, as alumni of this great university, you feel a part of it. I invite you to visit my Web pages at www.uni.edu/pres for detailed updates as we proceed on all UNI initiatives.

I thank the students, faculty and staff of UNI for their continued dedication and hard work. I especially thank you, our proud and dedicated alumni, for staying in touch and keeping your purple and gold pride alive and growing. Our university is positioned to accomplish great things for its students and the state of Iowa. We look forward to seeing
everyone this fall. Please plan to join us for Homecoming, October 12-14, and Family Weekend, October 26-28.

Best wishes,

Benjamin J. Allen
President