Inside CVM recently sat down with Dr. Pat Halbur, the Acting Dean of Veterinary Medicine to discuss the college’s priorities over the next few months.
Inside CVM: You’re a long-time faculty member in the college and were named to this position a couple of months ago, so you have had time to assess where the college stands and what direction you think it should be heading.
Halbur: Although my official start date was June 1, Dean (Lisa) Nolan and I have been working on the transition for a couple of weeks. So yes, I have a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities we are likely to experience in the next year. The college has good momentum; however, our state has some major financial challenges right now that concern me in regards to how they will impact our college. We should know the size of our budget cuts soon but the college cabinet has already been working on several scenarios to minimize the impact of the cuts while continuing the progress of our programs. I will work to do my very best to get broad input from college faculty and staff in order to make the best possible decisions to keep the college moving forward..
Inside CVM: Do you have a top priority?
Halbur: Preparing students to be practice ready on day 1 after graduation is my top priority. Having said that, the research, professional practice, outreach and extension functions are very important to the success of the college and the stakeholders we serve. Everything we do in some way contributes to the teaching and learning opportunities for our professional and graduate students.
Inside CVM: The AVMA Council on Education will conduct an accreditation site visit to the college this fall? Is the college prepared for the visit?
Halbur: We still have a substantial amount of work to do but we will be ready…we have to be. It is an important and healthy process that will make us better in the end. Dr. Jared Danielson (associate dean of academic and student affairs) and his team have worked hard in preparing our college. The addition of Dr. Alex Ramirez as interim assistant dean in OASA will provide additional help in preparing our college. Now we need to engage all our faculty and students in the process.
Inside CVM: Iowa State is in the middle of the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign. How is the college’s campaign goal coming along?
Halbur: Support from donors has perhaps never been more important than it is today as our state budget shrinks and student debt grows. We are very fortunate to have a really good development team in our college led by Amy Kruzich and we have already raised over half of our $70 million target. The dean has major responsibilities in fundraising. I enjoy that part of my new job and look forward to working closely with our development team in surpassing our goal and in the process better position our college for the future. Student support will be critical for this college in the coming years so I want us to far exceed our $15 million goal for student scholarships.
Inside CVM: In this tough budget year, while the VDL’s line item state appropriation remained the same at $4 million, the VDL did not receive any state funding for a new building. Where does that project stand?
Halbur: As Chair of VDPAM and Executive Director of the VDL I have worked closely with Dr. (Rodger) Main (VDL director) over the last several years to get this project on the top of the list of capital project priorities for ISU and the Board of Regents (BOR). With new leadership at ISU and the BOR, it is critical that we work to make sure it stays as the university’s top priority. We have great support and advocacy from our stakeholders including commodity groups, Iowa Farm Bureau, IVMA, Grow Iowa Ag among others to keep this need in front of the legislature. We have also worked very hard to educate our legislators and I think they understand the need. It is really important that we continue to emphasize that when this project is completed it will provide the college with much needed space in the current VDL to address the college’s critical needs for teaching and research.