ISU President Geoffroy spoke of past and future challenges at the university convocation Monday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

“The landscape for higher education is changing,” Geoffroy said, adding that Iowa State must stay true to its mission and “find ways to fulfill it at the highest level of excellence and impact.”

Geoffroy cited budget cuts as a challenge the university faced last year and will continue to deal with in the future. He said federal stimulus funds have been used to replace lost state funding, and to make time to find alternate funding sources. However, Geoffroy said, the stimulus funds will stop on June 30, meaning any positions for which alternate funding has not been found will be eliminated.

Geoffroy said the university must prioritize its programs and activities, potentially eliminating some.

“In these times, we have little choice,” Geoffroy said.

Geoffroy said the attitude of the university community — a “great Iowa trait” — is as a key factor for the university’s success.

“Institutions that embrace change and pursue it energetically … will prosper,” Geoffroy said.

With an attitude of success, Geoffroy said the university “will prevail and succeed at the highest levels.”

Geoffroy highlighted several successes the university has enjoyed in the past year, including a record enrollment of 27,945 students for the fall semester.

Among the incoming freshman class, Geoffroy said the average ACT score was 24.9, the highest ever for the university. He said the improvement in ACT scores shows “an increase in quality along with numbers.”

Other key points Geoffroy cited included the national recognition of several student organizations, along with the induction of the BioCentury Research Farm, opening Tuesday, and the opening of Seasons Marketplace. Geoffroy also noted Iowa State’s performance in national rankings, particularly the high marks received by the agricultural and biosystems engineering and statistics departments.

Geoffroy also discussed Iowa State’s Live Green initiative, calling it “an important effort.”

“As a public university, it is essential that we lead by example,” Geoffroy said.

Geoffroy acknowledged the ISU staff and faculty, saying it takes a “team effort to achieve these kinds of successes.”

Geoffroy’s address also looked to the future in its discussion of the university’s strategic plan, which Elizabeth Hoffman, executive vice president and provost, oversees. By 2050, Geoffroy said, Iowa State “must be recognized around the world for its impact on issues changing our planet” including sustainability and animal and human health.

In order to reach the goals set by the strategic plan, Geoffroy said the university will “maintain high standards and high expectations.”

The ultimate goal, Geoffroy said, is for Iowa State to “be regarded as a treasured resource for Iowa, for our nation, for the world.”

Iowa Board of Regents President David Miles was also in attendance, part of a group who honored outstanding staff and faculty members.

Miles helped Geoffroy present the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence and the Regents Award for Staff Excellence.

Two ISU professors were honored with the title of distinguished professor, the highest academic honor given by the university.

Rameshwar Kanwar, professor and chair of agricultural and biosystems engineering, was named a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences. Steve Martin, university professor of materials science and engineering, was named the Anson S. Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering.

The title of university professor was given to three faculty members: Sedahlia Crase, professor of human development and family studies; Lawrence Genalo, professor of materials science and engineering; and Howard Van Auken, professor of management.

Hoffman; Sharron Quisenberry, vice president for research and economic development; Vice President for Business and Finance Warren Madden; Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Hill; and others presented awards and endowed faculty positions to 71 faculty and staff members who were honored during the ceremony.