Dear iSchool alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff,
As the end of summer quarter approaches and we gear up for the 2011-12 academic year, I reflect on the challenges and the successes of the past academic year and prepare to welcome our entering Centennial Class of 2011 in the fall.
The past year has been my most challenging as dean, and yet, we have come through it as an even stronger community with a bright future. Much of the year was spent working under the dark cloud of state budget cuts, potential restructuring of the school, preparing the Provost’s Program Evaluation Initiative documentation and working on a sustainable academic business plan. Our business plan allows the iSchool to sustain a large cut in state funding while continuing to deliver exceptional academic programs. It also calls for growing our Informatics and MSIM programs and moving our residential MLIS program to a self-sustaining model. Becoming self-sustaining will establish a more predictable and stable funding platform, and further insulate the iSchool from the impact of future state budget reductions. This change will have no effect on the academic program or its accreditation, ranking, quality, or integrity.
In addition to our work internally, alumni, industry partners and friends of the iSchool wrote letters of support for the iSchool, expressing their commitment and identifying the important value of our school and our graduates to this region and beyond. I am extremely grateful for the continued support of the entire iSchool community: students, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff.
In May, we were informed that the iSchool will remain an independent school on the UW campus. Thanks to all of you who sent letters of support. This extraordinary vote of confidence was noted in the Provost's message to our community. Our school has made it through these dark days, the sun is out, and we are stronger than ever.
Not long after our celebration of this budget success, we participated in a wonderful showcasing of iSchool student research and innovation — the 2011 Capstone event. What a phenomenal exhibit of the remarkable talent, knowledge, and creativity by our students! The evening once again reinforced for me that our school attracts the best and brightest students in the world.
As I look forward to the new academic year and to welcoming our 2011 Centennial Class, I also reflect on the former students, faculty, and staff who have gone before us to make our school what it is today. Our Centennial Committee, consisting of alumni, faculty, students, and staff representing a span of over 50 years, has planned a wide range of opportunities to celebrate our 100th anniversary framed with the theme, "100 Years of Connecting People & Information." This array of Centennial activities began with our hosting iConference 2011 in February, and continued with recognition and celebrations at national conferences including; the Washington Library Association Conference, the Oregon Library Association Conference, a record-turnout to a Centennial reception at the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans; and a reception and Centennial poster presentation at the American Association of Law Libraries Conference in Philadelphia. iSchool community members have also shared their stories on-line at Intersect.com – a place where people share stories over time and discover connections at the intersections of time and place. Stay tuned for the other celebrations that the Centennial Committee has in store for us in this 2011-12 academic year, including a class photo of our 2011-12 Centennial class that we can hang next to this photo of our 1911-13 graduating class:
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Standing, left to right
Seated, left to right
Not pictured
Want to learn more about the history of the iSchool?For an illustrated look back on the history of the iSchool, visit the Web site developed to commemorate the iSchool's first 90 years. |
Class of 1913 Library School
Let’s celebrate this shared history and honor the leadership and students that have come before us to make the iSchool the outstanding place that it is today – a unique school that has connected people and information for 100 years, and one with a bright future for the next 100 years and beyond. Thank you to all who have been a part of this journey and for your support in moving us forward.
Best wishes and thank you for your commitment to our great school,
Harry Bruce
Professor and Dean
The Information School
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