Iowa State's president vows to 'prepare our students for the new economy of rapid change'

Wendy Wintersteen, installed Friday as Iowa State University’s 16th president, outlined several goals she hoped to achieve during her tenure including promoting an atmosphere of entrepreneurship, boosting graduation rates and attracting and retaining top faculty.

The installation ceremony, a centuries-old tradition of welcoming new presidents at U.S.universities and colleges, included remarks by Wintersteen about her vision for the Ames institution.

The ceremony was held at Stephens Auditorium and was attended by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds; U.S. Rep. Steve King, who represents Iowa’s Fourth District that includes Ames; members of Iowa’s Board of Regents; Bruce Harreld, University of Iowa president; Mark Nook, University of Northern Iowa president; and ISU faculty, staff and students.

The 90-minute ceremony included a moment of silence for Celia Barquin Arozamena, an ISU student and former top Cyclone golfer who was slain Monday at an Ames golf course.

Wintersteen, 62, was named Iowa State’s president Oct. 23 by the Board of Regents. She has worked at the university for more than 35 years, including 11 as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

She began as president Nov. 20. Her five-year contract included a first-year annual salary of $525,000 that will increase to $550,000 in her second year and $590,000 her third. She also has a deferred compensation package.

During Friday’s speech, Wintersteen emphasized that she wants to establish a "vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem where innovating is built into the curriculum" and where students, faculty and staff receive support to move forward their ideas.

She spotlighted the entrepreneurship major offered by Iowa State's business college and said similar programs will be created in other colleges “to better prepare our students for the new economy of rapid change.”

Wintersteen said the university must improve its graduation rates. Of the students who began their freshman year in 2013, 46 percent graduated four years later.

An even smaller percentage of minorities — 33 percent — graduated in four years. ISU’s six-year graduation rate is 73 percent; for minority students, it’s 66 percent.

Wintersteen said she would work with the ISU Foundation to raise money to offer completion grants to students who, as seniors, run out of funds to pay for their schooling.

"Imagine being 12 credits away from graduating but having no funds to finish that semester,” she said. Completion grants “provide the final bit of financial help to get our seniors across the finish line.”

Iowa State is currently part of a pilot program testing the effectiveness of completion grants.

Wintersteen alluded to concerns about the number of faculty members who have left ISU. In 2016-17, the most recent year data is available, 44 faculty members left, the most in a decade.

"I will make it a priority to recruit, nurture and retain excellent faculty," she said, adding that she would seek financial support to help pay for salaries and facilities needed to keep top workers at ISU.