UI president-to-be Harreld: Here’s why I came to Iowa
Newly chosen and embattled University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld sent a message to the UI community this week, laying out some of his vision for Iowa’s second-largest university. Harreld officially takes the top post at UI Nov. 2.
In large part, Harreld sought to explain why he chose to move to Iowa. Although many of his comments were general, he hinted at some specifics, at one point suggesting that he has no interest in the university selling its most famous artwork, Jackson Pollock’s $140 million “Mural.”
“I am a graduate of a public research institution, and I believe these institutions are the foundation of our future,” wrote Harreld, whose selection as president has caused an uproar from faculty members and others who question his credentials. “Through their mission of teaching, research and service, they promise to make our individual and collective lives better.”
“The University of Iowa addresses these missions with a balanced commitment to the sciences, arts and humanities; a culture that sincerely wants every student to succeed; and a deep sense of obligation to the people of its state,” Harreld wrote. “It’s a unique place with an essential purpose.”
Later, he discussed some of the challenges he, and others at UI, will face: “Higher education stands at the threshold of changes driven by increased competition, diminished federal and state funding, increased tuition, rapid technology shifts and questions about its value.”
Harreld addressed several concerns raised by professors and others:
- Tenure will stay. “I fully support faculty tenure. It provides the foundation for academic freedom, protects innovative research and scholarship, and ensures that our students can learn from the best in their fields.”
- UI will invest in people. “Even in lean times, we can’t lose sight of the fact that faculty, staff and students are the university. We need to recruit the best and give them the support they need to excel in learning, teaching, research and scholarship.”
- Jackson Pollock’s “Mural” will stay. “Iowa has built an art collection that includes treasures like Jackson Pollock’s ‘Mural,’ pioneering programs like the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and an academic culture that emphasizes the role of the liberal arts in shaping students’ practical skills and perspectives on life. These form our core, and they must be protected and built upon at all costs.”
Harreld encouraged people who hear disturbing news about his visions and values to ask him about it directly. There are many misconceptions out there, he said. Read more
Trending News
