“We’re coming off a year that saw significant advancements in every area except state funding,” Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy said at his final convocation speech.

Geoffroy didn’t lay out a plan for next year, as he usually does at convocation, because he said he wants to let the new president create his own schedule.

Geoffroy said he also didn’t want to influence the results of the Board of Regents meeting tomorrow, so instead, he gave a few areas of interest Iowa State needs to keep working on in the future.

He said Iowa State can’t let fundraising slip.

Geoffroy said last year Iowa State passed its private fundraising goal by more than $67 million, had 118,000 donors, 37,000 of which were first time donors.

The University created 123 endowed faculty positions and 715 new scholarships. University fundraising impacted 25 buildings. The student call center received 13 million phone calls.

Geoffroy said the University needs to focus on state funding as well.

“I remember the first day I started in July 2001, when someone first whispered in my ear state funding is in trouble,” Geoffroy said.

He said state funding is now at the same level as it was in 1996.

Geoffroy also warned of cuts that could be coming from the federal level.

He also said two positions need to be filled this year.

Geoffroy said hopefully the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences position will be filled this fall and the Dean of Students position will be filled before the end of spring semester.

Geoffroy said projects that need to be completed are the new recreation facility, Troxell Hall, and two more buildings and the atrium that will be added on near Hach Hall.

“I do want everyone here to know how much I’ve enjoyed my service as president and how proud I am,” Geoffroy said. “The future of Iowa State is very, very bright because of the leadership on campus and two great presidential candidates.”