The close of the fall semester occurs at a special time, one filled with family gatherings, celebrations of the past year, and hope for the new. As we wind down from the busy fall of 2016, let’s all take on one extra challenge: Let’s remember to assist those in need.
This past semester was full of good fortune for us at the University of Iowa. We celebrated historic openings of so many remarkable buildings that will inspire our university and the wider community—and beyond—to even greater heights. And the dedication, vision, patience, and hard work of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as the generosity and support of our state and nation’s citizens and our private donors, over the past eight years have culminated in vibrant, uplifting spaces that will further our distinctive history of learning, scholarship, creation, and discovery.
The celebration will continue in the coming months. We will have the honor of opening a groundbreaking new children’s hospital, greatly enhancing the world-class health care that we provide. We will also make progress on cutting-edge facilities for pharmacy, engineering, and student housing, as well as a new art museum. But as I’ve always said, what’s more important than these buildings themselves is how we use them to interrelate with and assist one another.
Whether we are faculty, staff, students, or administrators, we’re working together across all the arts, humanities, sciences, and professions that make up this university to discover what it means to be human, how those meanings inform our work, and how those crucial insights help us improve society for all members equally. In the end, giving back to make the world a better place is our overarching mission. Living, working, and learning in this university community, I’m constantly reminded of all that we have to be thankful for, especially our opportunity to improve the lives of others. We must always be aware of our good fortune, especially given the difficulties so many face.
Our efforts to make lives better for others must not stop in the classroom, the studio, the library, or the lab. They should be part of what we do every day in our neighborhoods and communities. Giving back should infuse our daily living as well as our professional endeavors. As you spend time with family and friends over the coming semester break, please think of those who are less fortunate, and offer what you can to them—your knowledge, your talent, your resources, a helping hand. Even giving back in a small way can change the world significantly.
In this season of reflection and renewal, I hope this charge brings everyone back to campus in January re-energized and re-inspired to pursue our teaching and learning, discovery and creation, and engagement and service.
Thank you for a successful semester. Enjoy your break, best wishes for the new year to come, and please extend a hand to those in need.