College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Strategic Plan
2005-2010
With the founding of Iowa State University under the provisions of
the Morrill Act, the state committed itself to the support of an educational
institution that provided both a practical and a liberal education.
The liberal arts and sciences were to provide the educational foundation
upon which all others studies rested.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has embraced this purpose by
providing the basic research and cultural foundations on which the other
academic and professional colleges depend and offering general education
courses that support every curriculum. Almost all students in the University
take courses in the College at both the introductory and advanced levels,
and in many disciplines. As the academic heart of the University, the
College continues to sustain a special responsibility and commitment
to ensure the highest quality education for all Iowa State students.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is, indeed, "the university's
college."
Mindful of its continuing mission and pressing future concerns, the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has developed its strategic plan
with a commitment to providing leadership in basic and applied research,
fostering creative activity, maintaining a comprehensive and intellectually
rigorous academic program for all its students, and enhancing the life-long
learning and well being of the citizens of Iowa and the nation.
LAS Strategic Priorities for 2005-2010
1. Provide a liberal arts education that will help prepare students,
both undergraduate and graduate, to live and work in an emerging, constantly
evolving world
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Affirm a commitment to the core disciplines and modes
of thinking that sustain higher education by offering high-quality
instruction in foundation courses in addition to the outstanding majors,
upper division and graduate courses provided
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Promote the recruitment and the professional development
of a community of world class scholars
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Aggressively recruit and retain high quality and
diverse students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including
those students who have not yet selected a major field of study
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Provide an innovative, intellectually stimulating,
and welcoming experience for new students
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Encourage and support the development of collaborative
teaching and interdisciplinary courses
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Provide diverse academic and cultural experiences
by means of language study, cultural studies, study abroad programs,
and coursework in the fields of American diversity and international
issues
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Coordinate coursework with student opportunities for
internships, service learning projects, and similar experiences
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Continue to integrate technology as a teaching tool
when useful and to develop alternative modes of instruction for on-campus
and off-campus constituencies
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Help build and support well-led collegial departments
2. Promote excellence in research and creative activity
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Aggressively recruit and retain outstanding and diverse
faculty
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Support hiring excellent faculty in all departments
and encourage and reward faculty with outstanding scholarship programs
while working with departments to form areas of academic excellence
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Facilitate the pursuit of external funding for faculty
research and creative activity
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Develop and sustain academic departments and disciplines
while continuing to support the development of interdisciplinary,
cross-disciplinary programs, and multi-institutional research and
creative activity
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Encourage and support undergraduate as well as graduate
student involvement in research and creative activity
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Continue to support the scholarly activities of Iowa
State's centers of excellence
3. Expand the College's engagement with academic, social, cultural,
and economic communities beyond the campus—locally, regionally,
and globally
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Support and facilitate the public dissemination of
scientifically based knowledge and practical applications of that
knowledge
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Enhance relationships with the K-12 and two-year
college programs of the State of Iowa to improve coordination and
articulation of shared goals and expectations
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Support student and faculty performances, presentations,
workshops, and other contributions to academic and community arts
and humanities programs throughout the State of Iowa
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Encourage student and faculty involvement in addressing
the social, political, ethical, and economic challenges and opportunities
facing the State of Iowa
-
Strengthen ties to alumni and other constituencies
through scholarships, internships, student placement, and resource
development
Approved:
LAS Cabinet - September 29, 2005
LAS Representative Assembly - October 5, 2005 |
