I am very happy to be able to share with the University of Iowa community the report of the Advisory Committee on African American Studies. The Committee has submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations for revitalizing African American studies and increasing its role on our campus. These recommendations are thoughtful, positive, forward-looking, and creative. Report of the Advisory Committee on African American Studies (.pdf)

The Advisory Committee on African American Studies was constituted in summer 2004 on the recommendation of the CLAS Executive Committee. The Advisory Committee conferred with faculty, staff, and students across campus before arriving at their recommendations. I now want to share their report widely. Over the next several months, I will also discuss these recommendations and their implementation with the CLAS Executive Committee and other elected bodies in the College. I am optimistic that the report will receive the full support of our CLAS governance bodies.

Provost Hogan is eager to partner with the College in providing the resources needed to implement the Committee’s recommendations. An important recommendation is to increase faculty participation in African American studies at the University. Several members of the Advisory Committee have expressed interest in affiliating with African American studies, and other faculty members interviewed by the Advisory Committee also expressed interest. In the fall, I will invite faculty with relevant teaching and research interests to consider such an affiliation.

I thank the Advisory Committee on African American studies for their commitment to the important task of achieving a visible, vital presence in African American studies on our campus. I look forward to working with the faculty to achieve the goals and implement the recommendations outlined in this report.