UI researchers found pigeons don’t stick to one routine, even when every choice is rewarded, but balance repetition and variation at what’s called the “edge of chaos.”

As the University of Iowa reports record levels of student retention and graduation, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) continues to expand advising, curricular, and career readiness efforts that support student success.

Spring 2026 CLAS Commencement Ceremonies brought together graduates, families, and faculty to celebrate the achievements of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students.

Monica Correia, professor of 3D design and collegiate scholar in the University of Iowa School of Art, Art History, and Design in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award to France, among the highest honors in international academic and cultural exchange.

A University of Iowa hearing care study led by researchers in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was named Editor’s Choice: Clinical Trial of the Year for 2025 by JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. The study found that patients who worked with audiologists experienced better outcomes than those using over-the-counter hearing aids on their own, while higher-cost devices did not produce better results than lower-cost options.

The potential reopening of a nuclear plant in eastern Iowa is an early signal of the Trump administration's push to fast-track nuclear development. As tech companies move to build more energy-intensive data centers, the administration wants to bring more power to the grid.

Four College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students will take the stage at spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies as student singers and speakers, representing the range of experiences that shape a CLAS education. From music and publishing to storytelling and reflection, each brings a distinct perspective to the moment.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has announced the recipients of its prestigious awards for faculty who received a promotion to tenured associate professor and full professor, and to associate professor and full professor of instruction. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has announced seven faculty members will receive the college’s esteemed Dean’s Scholar, Collegiate Scholar, Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction, and Distinguished Professor of Instruction awards.

For CLAS students, finals are not one-size-fits-all. This guide focuses on preparation strategies across disciplines to help you perform well, whatever your final exam looks like.

The University of Iowa’s music therapy program turns 50 this year, and a graduate student is turning her own experience with spinal surgery into research that helps adolescents recovering from the same procedure.