Spring 2026 update
CLAS Community,
As we come to the end of our current strategic plan, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we have accomplished together over the past five years.
From the outset, this plan asked us to be intentional–about where we invest, how we work together, and how we support our students, faculty, and staff. Because of your efforts, we have made meaningful progress across each of these areas, and I am deeply grateful for the work that has brought us to this point.
We have strengthened our research and creative enterprise in significant ways. Our faculty are pursuing ambitious, high-impact work, and we’ve seen that reflected in record levels of grant proposals and funding. At the same time, we have built the infrastructure to better support that work–from the growth of our Grant Support Office to improvements in research technology, space, and facilities.
We have also made important progress in student success. Through sustained investments in academic advising, student services, and teaching and learning, our retention and graduation rates have climbed to historic highs. These outcomes reflect the meaningful work happening across the college every day: advisors with more time to support students, expanded student care and wellness efforts, and faculty continuing to adapt and strengthen their teaching in a changing environment.
Over the course of this plan, we have worked to better support faculty and staff as well. This has included clarifying policies and expectations, improving processes, investing in leadership development, and strengthening our administrative structures. While there is always more to do, these efforts have helped position our faculty and staff for success in ways we have not previously been able to achieve.
We have also continued to invest in areas that define who we are as a college and a university. Writing and communication remain central to our mission, and we have taken steps to elevate and better coordinate this work through the creation of the Office of Writing and Communication. At the same time, we have reinforced our commitment to the arts and humanities, ensuring that creative work continues to be a visible and valued part of the CLAS and Iowa experience.
None of this progress would be possible without strong partnerships. With the support of our alumni and friends and in collaboration with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, we have reached and now surpassed our $250 million Together Hawkeyes campaign goal. This milestone reflects the collective effort of so many across the college and the broader university.
As we look ahead, we do so in a landscape that continues to evolve. Our next strategic planning process will begin this summer and will commence in earnest in fall 2026. Our goal is to engage faculty and staff from across the college in meaningful ways, and we encourage you to look for invitations and opportunities to participate and help us shape our path forward. The Senior Leadership Team will lead this effort in close partnership with shared governance, ensuring that the next plan reflects the priorities and experiences of our community.
The past five years have strengthened our foundation and clarified our direction. Because of your work, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is well positioned for what comes next.
Thank you for all that you do for CLAS and for our students.
Sara Sanders, PhD, MSW
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
