Des Moines Register, IA
06-22-07
Diversity emphasis a plus for U of I, Iowa
New president must confront funding issues, insist on openness.
REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD
After a tumultuous year following David Skorton's departure from the University
of Iowa presidency last summer, it's welcome news that Purdue University
Provost Sally Mason will succeed him.
The 57-year-old biologist brings an impressive understanding of the challenges
facing public research universities, based on analysis by the U of I presidential
search committee and reports from Indiana. The Iowa Board of Regents picked
her from among four finalists for the position, which was vacant for a year
because it botched the first search.
Mason's extensive administrative experience as a dean and provost, her
reputation for being eager to listen and the emphasis she places on diversity
promise to serve the U of I and the state well. She's well regarded academically
and has worked with Division I sports. Her lack of experience running a major
medical complex should not be a drawback as long as other talented
administrators devote significant attention to U of I Hospitals.
It is especially reassuring that during Mason's public interview in Iowa City she
made a point of saying that universities today must develop more revenue
streams so that students don't bear the full burden of the cost of higher
education.
That speaks directly to one of the most important roles Mason will play as the
new president of the U of I. She and the presidents at Iowa State University and
the University of Northern Iowa must make their best case to the people of Iowa
and their elected representatives for greater state investment in these three
jewels.
Leaders must meet the twin goals of keeping the state's universities affordable
for Iowa families and assuring the excellence that provides a great education and
nurtures economic development.
After several years of damaging underspending by the state, when tuition rose
astronomically and some first-rate faculty left, the 2007 Legislature and Gov.
Chet Culver provided generous funding for the schools. Yet their new state
operating appropriation of $698.3 million is only slightly higher than it was in
2001.
Openness is another core value that's key to leading the University of Iowa.
Public confidence in the institution depends on it. Mason's record on this count is
mostly positive, with one troubling episode.
Many people have spoken highly of her accessibility and responsiveness to
various constituencies, but questions linger about Mason's handling of
allegations of research misconduct against a nuclear engineer at Purdue. At her
Iowa City interview, Mason said she made a comment about "contentiousness of
personalities" that was misunderstood to mean she was giving the allegations
short shrift. "If I could take it back, I would," she said.
The Journal & Courier newspaper in Lafayette reported in May that a
congressional committee sent a memo scolding Purdue officials for their
inadequate inquiry into the research misconduct claims and calling on them to do
better.
Mason's push for more diversity on campus is a strong and relatively rare asset.
That need often gets more discussion than action. One example of her success:
During her tenure at Purdue, she said more than half of the hires for new faculty
positions have been women or minorities.
Achieving excellence in today's global economy means recruiting the best minds
from all cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. And that, in turn, will show Iowa
is a place that welcomes everyone to build a life, establish a career and follow a
dream.
That type of broad vision for higher education can extend the University of Iowa's
influence even farther beyond the boundaries of its campus.