It is with great pride that I present the University of Iowa's 2012 Annual Report. We continue to renew our campus in ways that allow our students, faculty, and staff to lead and innovate in teaching and learning, research, creative endeavor, and service to our state and society. This report shares the scope and depth of the changing face of campus.

We broke ground this summer on the first residence hall to be built on campus since 1968. In addition to housing for 501 students, it will include a multi-purpose room with a performance space, a sports grill operated by University Dining, and tutoring and group study areas. The new residence hall will be designed around the living-learning community concept, connecting students with common academic goals and interests. And our football and golf teams will benefit from state-of-the-art training facilities, helping the Hawkeyes remain competitive on the field and in student-athlete recruitment.

This year also saw continued progress with our arts campus revival. In the spring, the Iowa Board of Regents voted to approve schematic designs and funding to bring arts buildings lost to the 2008 flood back to life, a significant step forward in the campus recovery process. More recently, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment to provide $83 million for the replacement of Hancher Auditorium, the School of Music and Clapp Recital Hall building, and the studio arts building. Our university community can now move forward with certainty that our students, faculty, and staff will have the facilities they need in an arts campus designed for the 21st century.

Our world-class health care organization—Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center—continues to enhance the health of communities across the state. UI Health Care leadership joined government officials, business leaders, and other guests in October 2012 to formally dedicate the state’s newest ambulatory care clinic in the Iowa River Landing district in Coralville. This magnificent and innovative facility helps fulfill the broader UI missions of education and research, coupled with excellence in patient care. Progress continues on the UI Children’s Hospital project. When it is completed in 2016, the new hospital will be a 14-story, 195-bed state-of-the-art facility specifically designed to meet the health care needs of children and their families. And the new College of Public Health Building, now open, brings together faculty, students, and staff to create a vibrant home for public health learning and collaboration.

Our new facilities also reflect our commitment to sustainability. As part of our 2020 Vision goals, new buildings will be constructed according to LEED principles for energy savings and environmental stewardship.

While the face of campus is changing, our commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service remains our most important goal. Through this report, we offer you a sampling of the ways the university is on the leading edge.

Sally Mason, President, The University of Iowa