College&Unit Missions

The mission, goals, and vision statements of the University are the foundation for the mission statements of its seven academic colleges. The mission of each college shapes its work and that of its departments, permeating the philosophy of its faculty, staff and students, appearing and reappearing in its research agenda, teaching and learning initiatives, student learning outcomes, and strategic planning. The mission statement of each college guides the development of its academic programs, the allocation of its resources, and the selection of its research directions.

The open and inclusive nature of the development of the 2005-2010 strategic plan gave colleges the opportunity to review their own plans in that context and many have recently refined their missions and strategic plans or are in the process of doing so. A mission statement of each college follows; additional information about college missions and planning can be found in the Academic Profiles section. In addition, most administrative units of all types throughout the university also have mission statements and associated strategic plans.

The mission of the College of Agriculture is to:

• Discover and share science-based knowledge for the development of socially beneficial, economically successful and environmentally sound systems for food and other renewable resources
• Engage communities for enhancing the quality of life
• Prepare students to become future leaders in agriculture and society

The mission of the College of Business at Iowa State Universtity is to conduct and to share research to educate tomorrow’s business leaders so they are prepared to deal with multi-disciplinary, global, technological, ethical, and diversity challenges.

The College of Design derived its mission from the historical evolution of the design disciplines and the visual arts at Iowa State University. The mission, approved in 1977 when the Board of Regents established the College, is applicable today:

• To provide an organization for direct interaction among students, faculty and professionals involved in all aspects of the visual arts, design and the planning of structures, communities and environments;

• To improve educational opportunities for the increasing number of young people entering programs in the design professions;

• To provide opportunities for all students in the university to undertake studies in art, design and the built environment;

• To foster creative thought, scholarship and research on an interdisciplinary basis as well as on an individual basis;

• To serve as a design resource for the university, the community and the state.

The College of Engineering has adopted the following mission statement:

“Provide leadership through innovative education, research and public engagement to improve the quality of life in Iowa, the nation and the world, while leading the 21st century mission of land grant Colleges of Engineering.”

The newly formed College of Human Sciences developed a mission that honors its predecessors, the Colleges of Education and Family and Consumer Sciences. The College provides an integrative approach to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, consumers, and communities by:

• Linking discovery, science, creativity, and practice;

• Applying the knowledge of learning in all endeavors;

• And developing leaders for roles in research, education, business and industry, and health and human services.

The primary mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is to prepare students to become knowledgeable, contributing citizens in a world of diverse cultures. Vital to the mission of the College is the discovery of new knowledge through teaching and learning, research and creative activity. The role of the College is to nurture and sustain the learning and understanding achieved.

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of animals and humans through excellence in education, research, professional practice, and committed service to the State of Iowa, the nation, and the world.