August 25, 2008

Dear Members of the University of Iowa Community:

With special enthusiasm, I welcome all faculty, staff, and students back to campus for the 2008-2009 academic year. Just two months ago, as the Iowa River flooded so much of our campus and community, it would have been hard to believe that, come mid-August, we would be ready to open the University to all of our 30,000 students and provide all the classes we promised them. But through the extraordinary efforts of many UI employees, our Facilities Management team, and our contractors, we have been able to restore enough of our infrastructure to begin the fall semester. I have been moved and inspired by the way our University community has come together and worked so remarkably hard, and I thank each and every one of you for helping make sure we were able to get to where we are today.

Although we have come an incredibly long way, we still have an even longer way to go. The recovery that has allowed us to reopen Mayflower Residence Hall, the Adler Journalism Building, the English-Philosophy Building, and the Becker Communication Studies Building has been a temporary one, a recovery effort to enable the continuity of our academic mission. Even these buildings that we have been able to open require further long-term flood mitigation. And, as you know, a number of our buildings--IATL, IMU, and our arts campus--remain closed and, in some cases, will remain closed for a significant amount of time. We need to examine and understand how we will continue to live with the Iowa River, and the process for doing so will be extensive and inclusive. I encourage you to keep your eyes open for announcements about how we will be proceeding and how you can participate.

We of course are excited about much more than opening buildings this week. We are also welcoming another record class of new Hawkeyes. When many of those students and their families visited campus this summer, I believe they were inspired by the commitment to and deep affection for the University they saw among our faculty, staff, students, and flood volunteers. Our admissions, orientation, and advising staff helped show everyone the strong Hawkeye spirit, and they did their usual superb job under difficult circumstances. We welcome a new class of students whose desire to join the Iowa family has not been daunted by the flood but rather strengthened by your response to it. You have my thanks.

In addition to thousands of new students, we also welcome a number of new faculty, staff, and leaders. Our new Executive Vice President and Provost Wallace Loh has been on the job since August 1. Please extend to him a proper Iowa welcome when you get the chance. I want to thank Lola Lopes for her service as Interim Provost, especially for her amazing leadership during and after the flood. We also welcome our new Dean of the College of Public Health, Susan Curry; our new Dean of the Carver College of Medicine, Paul Rothman (former Head of Internal Medicine); and our new UI Hospitals and Clinics CEO, Kenneth Kates. I look forward to working with these new leaders as we move the University forward.

As we begin the new academic year, I would also like to remind everyone that The University of Iowa is now a smoke-free campus. Iowa's Smoke-free Air Act took effect July 1. The new law requires all public educational facilities to be smoke-free both inside buildings and on the grounds. We will be publicizing the new policy throughout the coming semester, including email communications, information on UI websites, student and staff presentations, and notification in print materials. A smoke-free campus will provide a healthier environment for all, and I thank you for your cooperation in following our new policy. We are also committed to providing resources to faculty, staff, and students who want to quit using tobacco. You can find information on the new policy and smoking cessation resources at http://www.uiowa.edu/homepage/smoking/index.html

You are no doubt all aware that sexual harassment and sexual assault have been a major concern on our campus this past year. Neither is to be tolerated at The University of Iowa. As a university, we are committed to the highest standards of intellectual pursuit, and our standards for respect for others must be equally high. To help communicate that message, we are launching a campaign to promote inclusion, social justice, and human civility across our campus. Entitled "Respect: give it. get it.," the campaign affirms that The University of Iowa is committed to excellence, learning, community, diversity, integrity, and responsibility, allowing every individual to be treated with openness, mutual appreciation, and, therefore, respect. Please watch for further announcements about this initiative, and please take part.

Regarding the specific issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault, no doubt new policies and procedures will be coming our way, and I thank you in advance for keeping apprised of them. Please do all you can to help us maintain and build the most respectful campus imaginable.

Thank you for your dedication to The University of Iowa, whether you are a senior about to graduate, a new employee, or a long-time campus community member. In my first year as President, I have been amazed over and over again by the talent and commitment I see every day here at the UI. As we begin a new academic year, I look forward to joining you in making Iowa the very best institution of higher education it can possibly be.

Sally Mason
President