Recap of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting of August 10, 2009 ...

The August 10, 2009 Ripples on the Rapids written by Editor Larry Christy highlighted our speaker: DR. WALACE LOH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & PROVOST, THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

The Importance of Diversity

Dr. Loh was named Executive Vice President and Provost of The University of Iowa in August 2008. Dr. Loh is no stranger to the State of Iowa although he was born in China and raised in Peru. In the press release announcing his appointment as Provost, he said “I immigrated to this country as a teenager, landing in Iowa. I was received with open arms by so many people. Their generosity made a lasting difference in my life. My return to Iowa represents the coming to full circle of my career, an opportunity to serve in the state where I started my life in America.”

The Provost is the University’s Chief Academic Officer and the highest-ranking university official after the president. The provost fosters the creation, advancement and implementation of the academic vision for the university. Responsible for all academic departments, colleges and programs, the Provost oversees the processes of faculty appointment, development, promotion and tenure, as well as faculty grievance procedures. The Provost also establishes all academic policies, oversees reviews of all academic units and leads and implements strategic planning.

Dr. Loh said that the word Provost was first encountered in the English language when William Shakespeare used the term to designate the Warden of a prison. Dr. Loh said “there are days.” He said he sometimes could identify with that as manager of 3 thousand faculty members with life-time employment tenure. He also said he sometimes felt like the director of a cemetery – “lots of people under me, but nobody listens.” He said the average tenure of a Provost is 3 ½ years about the lifespan of a wild mushroom.”

We live in interesting times. Dr. Loh arrived on campus in the immediate aftermath of the heartbreaking and devastating Flood of 2008. He found an inspiring community that did not give up in the face of adversity – the flood and the concurrent economic recession. He noted that President Mason had three objectives for the university: (1) protect the quality of the university (2) protect people and jobs and (3) keep the university affordable. There are many challenges and opportunities including the rebuilding of the entire arts campus and the location of a new Hancher Auditorium.

Dr. Loh feels that a great university is a diverse university, where different peoples and perspectives enrich learning, scholarship and governance. The University of Iowa has made steady progress toward its diversity goals and the campus population is now more diverse than the state as a whole. He stated that our national motto is E Pluribus Unum, one formed from many. The Challenge and opportunity is to find the proper balance between the one and the many, between community and diversity.

He thinks it is important to view diversity today in the context of globalization. America is changing as a result of immigration and Iowa has a steady increase in Latino immigrants who are revitalizing local economies. Traditionally, universities address domestic diversity and international diversity separately, but he would like to see us explore the convergence of these demographic and cultural tends.

Other Highlights from the August 10, 2009 meeting:

• IAN CULLIS AWARDED PAUL HARRIS FELLOW


• PRESIDENT PAUL MORF PRESENTS A BILL GATES ROTARY CHALLENGE UPDATE


• APPLIANCE PROJECT UPDATE: Flood Relief in Cedar Rapids area by Rotary

The past meeting on August 10, 2009 was the 4,521st meeting of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids. Our next meeting will be at Noon on Monday, August, 17, 2009:

Monday, August 17, 2009

Crowne Plaza Hotel

Speaker and Program:
DAN THIES & TOM PODZIMEK
PUBLIC FACILITIES UPDATE

Robin Tucker