Dear all,

I hope this message finds you warm and well as we brave the depths of the winter! There is some consolation in the fact that spring semester will end with warmer temperatures than when it began.  

The first month of the new semester and the new year heralds the arrival of our annual report, and we are delighted to present you with the 2025 edition. The annual report presents IP’s activity in all its vibrancy. It showcases the many ways in which we carry out our mission to internationalize our campus, whether through support of study abroad, international students and scholars, community and alumni engagement, global partnerships, and funding for student and faculty research. The statistics, text, and photos highlight the Hawkeye spirit in every corner of the globe. We are deeply grateful to our Communications and Relations staff, namely Katie Ron, Daniel Vorwerk, Ben Partridge, Hallie Russell, Kate Murphy, and Amy Green, for the months of work they put into producing this gleaming testimonial to the UI’s contributions across the world. Please enjoy the report and feel free to send comments and/or follow us on social media.

While the annual report headlines our activity for January, IP remained quite busy in other areas as well. We were quite pleased to welcome over 20 new international students to our campus this past month. As always, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) does an excellent job preparing and conducting international student orientation, which takes place the week before classes start. IP is delighted that these students chose the University of Iowa to pursue their degrees, and we will do everything we can to make sure these new Hawkeyes feel comfortable in their Iowa home.

As our new international students find their way to Iowa City, so do our returnees from various Iowa Winterim study abroad programs. The January term included the study of water scarcity in rural India, international business in London and Sydney, sponsored by the Tippie College of Business, ancient world and genre fiction in Greece, as well as women’s empowerment in the Dominican Republic. Between the students in the Iowa Winterim programs and those going abroad this spring, the UI will send hundreds of Hawkeyes to multiple global destinations during the first half of 2026. Study abroad is as popular now as it has ever been, and we applaud the curiosity and maturity of UI students willing to challenge themselves by embracing international experiences.

Mobility, communication, and engagement. These are the words and actions we live by in IP, and 2026 promises to be just as impactful as 2025. Thanks, as always, for your support. We are looking forward to another great year with you, our friends and sponsors.

All the best, 

Russ

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.