While the University of Iowa’s spring 2021 graduates didn’t get to experience a traditional in-person commencement ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and their families and friends found ways to celebrate their accomplishments this past weekend.

This spring, about 5,300 University of Iowa students will receive their degrees in livestreamed, virtual commencement ceremonies, beginning with the College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy ceremony on May 13 and concluding with the College of Dentistry’s ceremony on June 4.

The UI recently was awarded a level II accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, meeting advanced standards that recognize the UI campus as an arboretum dedicated to public education and engagement.

The University of Iowa search committee tasked with helping the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, select a new president considered 79 applications at its March 26 meeting, and from that pool, selected 12 candidates who will be interviewed today and Friday, April 1–2.

The University of Iowa has confirmed the dates of its 2021–22 academic calendar with no changes made to the start or end dates for fall 2021, spring 2022, or summer 2022. The calendar also includes an optional four-week winter session beginning Dec. 20 and a weeklong spring break in March 2022.

The university will create a multipurpose green space on part of the site where Seashore Hall once stood. The area will serve as a place to study, hold outdoor classes or small events, and more.

The University of Iowa’s Future of Work@Iowa committee has shared preliminary guidelines with deans, vice presidents, and senior human resources leaders to help begin making decisions about future work arrangements in their colleges and units.

University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld has named Professor Emeritus Susan R. Johnson chair of the search committee tasked with conducting an internal search for the next Faculty Ombudsperson.

John Keller, the University of Iowa’s associate provost for graduate and professional education and dean of the Graduate College, will step down as associate provost and dean on July 31.

The next meeting of the University of Iowa presidential search committee will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 5.

The University of Iowa is asking community members for feedback on three campus safety prototypes developed by the Reimagining Campus Safety Action Committee.

After implementing many positive changes on campus as a result of the Strategic Plan 2016–2021, the University of Iowa is now focused on updating the plan for the next five years.

The University of Iowa is now accepting letters of intent from faculty and staff who plan to submit proposals for P3 Year 1 funding for initiatives that support strategic priorities of student, faculty, and staff success; research and discovery; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and engagement.

Kevin Kregel has been named the University of Iowa’s executive vice president and provost after serving in the role as interim since July 15, 2020. He will begin in the permanent role on Feb. 15.

The University of Iowa is distributing the first $7.5 million of the investment revenue generated from the public-private partnership (P3) for its utility system.

Liz Tovar has been named executive officer for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the University of Iowa.

This report, “When Titans Clash,” features the emerging tech conflict between China and the United States. It includes clips of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Mike Pompeo, and others and features interviews and campus shots of the University of Iowa. The theme of the Iowa segment is how Chinese students are caught between clashing titans—perhaps much like little Singapore its self.

Results of the 2020 Campus Climate Survey show that, on average, University of Iowa faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars feel valued and satisfied with the university and within their respective departments and units.

In order to continue improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus and address specific areas outlined in the 2020 Campus Climate Survey results released earlier this week, the University of Iowa will implement five new initiatives.

It goes without saying that life has been difficult and stressful for all of us, especially over the past year.