The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums has joined the academic and reporting units of the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, in a move geared toward increasing community engagement and supporting student involvement in innovative research on campus.
The change became official on July 1, 2022. The new structure allows the Pentacrest Museums — which includes the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum — to build upon its collaborative work with colleges and academic units on campus, including the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) partnership with University of Iowa Libraries and the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art. GLAM solidifies the University of Iowa as a museum campus, enhancing the culture and lifestyle of students, staff, faculty, and the greater community, as well as the opportunity for high impact, object-based learning.
Together, these units have identified tactics to streamline operations, coordinate strategic communication, secure additional research funding, impact learning and student success, and strengthen partnerships within the community.
The Pentacrest Museums feature an impressive set of programs and events to enhance the student educational experience at Iowa, including the UI Museum of Natural History’s work with the Interdisciplinary Evolutionary Sciences Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, funded by the National Science Foundation. Additional programs for the campus community include Art & Write Night, Tree Tours, Connected for Life, and their Exhibition Spotlight series.