Sara Sanders during the DEI roundtable discussion

From Dean Sara Sanders

As the oldest and largest college of the university, CLAS is home to some of the leading programs in the world in the arts, humanities, and sciences, including the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, speech pathology and audiology, fine arts, social psychology, and space physics.

Our collective vision is that CLAS will be a world class comprehensive college focused on strategic areas of strength, maintaining our central role in the university delivering transformative education enhanced by excellence in research, scholarship and creativity. 

Strategic Plan Pillars

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is driven by our core values and commitments. We aspire to foster and then build on a foundation of community, transparency, communication, equity, diversity, creativity, excellence, and humility. Our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan works to regard all of these values as intimately connected and inseparable across these pillars.

A student conducting research in a lab

Research and Discovery

Infusing the research mission with renewed energy and vitality, and enhancing the visibility of our research.

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A psychology class at the University of Iowa

Undergraduate Student Success

Building a strong community of undergraduate learning and engagement.

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Bianca Robles-Munoz

Graduate Student Success

Supporting the graduate and postdoctoral student experience by building a strong community for learning and discovery.

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Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member Naomi Rogers

Faculty and Staff Development

Strengthening our recruitment, development, and retention of faculty and staff.

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Liz Mendez-Shannon leading a CLAS DEI committee meeting

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Promoting an inclusive environment and building stronger infrastructure to support DEI efforts.

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An image of Schaeffer Hall on the University of Iowa campus in spring

Outreach and Engagement

Supporting the work of faculty, students, and staff in building partnerships with communities throughout the state of Iowa and beyond.

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