Inside Iowa State

June 11, 2004

Holger named to new post

by Anne Krapfl

David Holger, associate dean for academic programs and budget in the College of Engineering, has been appointed associate provost for academic programs and dean of the Graduate College. The three-year appointment, announced today by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Benjamin Allen, is effective July 1.

"Because of the significant demands of this new position, we are very pleased that Dr. Holger has agreed to serve," Allen said. "We need a faculty member with his breadth and depth of experience. He has served the university in a number of capacities, including department chair, associate dean of Engineering and president of the Faculty Senate."

The new position is one outcome of a reorganization within the provost unit to reduce administrative costs in the face of ongoing budget cuts. It merges responsibilities held by vice provost for undergraduate programs Howard Shapiro and Graduate College Dean James Bloedel. The office of the vice provost for undergraduate programs will close July 1. Allen announced in April that oversight for the Graduate College would be moved into his office to more closely coordinate undergraduate and graduate programs. Bloedel will continue to coordinate the university's research function. Shapiro and Graduate College associate dean John Mayfield retain their faculty appointments at Iowa State.

As associate provost for academic programs, Holger will have responsibility for university-wide graduate and undergraduate programs, including assessment and student recruitment and retention, and is charged with leading efforts to improve the quality of academic programs at both levels. He will have responsibility for the following units:

• Center for Teaching Excellence
• Program for Women in Science and Engineering
• Honors Program
• Graduate College

The associate provost also will:

• Lead the North Central Association accreditation process, including a self-study in FY05 and the site visit in FY06.
• Oversee academic program review and accreditation.
• Serve as liaison to the ISU Faculty Senate on curriculum issues.
• Coordinate the Council on International Programs.

"My interest in this position was stimulated by my respect for the provost and his team, as well as the unusual opportunity to help define the position, as its initial occupant," Holger said. "Academic programs are the core of the university and I am excited about the opportunity this position presents to develop a more unified approach to academic programs encompassing all levels of education offered by Iowa State."

David Holger