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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, The University of Iowa mobilized efforts to ensure that the education of students from the Gulf Coast would not be interrupted by the storm. As a result, 24 displaced students (13 undergraduate and 11 graduate or professional) are now enrolled at Iowa, where they are attending classes, studying, getting to know their peers, and processing the events that brought them here.
Many University units, colleges, departments, and programs have joined in the effort—including everything from providing financial aid and housing assistance to connecting students with advisors and other Iowa students to help welcome them to the community.
“Every department I’ve contacted has had full triage services in place,” says Pat Folsom, director of academic advising. “They’re getting students into classes, arranging for them to get notes, tutoring, hooking them up with student organizations and peer mentors. It’s made me very proud of this university.”
The unusual circumstances have brought to light the collaborative and flexible nature of the entire UI community.
“I am impressed with how well and quickly we were able to move,” says Michael Hogan, executive vice president and provost. “Within 48 hours, The University of Iowa had plans in place and had reached out to students to make arrangements for continuing their education at Iowa.”
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Buildings magazine lists The University of Iowa as No. 10 on its “2005 ‘A’ List: Who’s Who in the Buildings Market” in its September 2005 issue. Iowa is the only university to make the top-25 list.
According to the citation, the University “boasts an impressive roster of 250 campus facilities that ‘provide a physical environment that promotes university excellence.’ This Big 10 school has always been a proponent of efficiency, and recently created a high-level campus committee on energy conservation that includes staff, faculty, and students...The University is currently drafting plans to build a future that embraces bioenergy. Education theory and real-world industry—could a win-win get better than that?”
