A Message from President Mary Sue Coleman

The University of Iowa's teaching, research, and service missions are not disparate. Rather, they are deeply entwined. The glue that binds them together is our commitment to building community. Creating social capital–the interactions that unite us socially, economically, creatively, and intellectually–is the University's stock-in-trade. In our classrooms, we teach our students to work cooperatively and provide for the greater good.

In our laboratories, in our libraries, and in the field, we seek ways to improve society in all dimensions. In our service activities, we provide direct assistance in enriching our communities across the state of Iowa, across the nation, and throughout the world.

The stories in this annual report for the fiscal year 2001 show that building community is at the heart of the mission at The University of Iowa, whether we are plumbing the mysteries of the tiniest quarks or spearheading the international writing scene. I invite you to join in our efforts at creating the finest human community possible, here at home in Iowa and across the globe.