The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the oldest and largest college at the University of Iowa—featuring more than 35 departments, 70 majors, and nearly 15,000 students. About 80 percent of undergraduate Hawkeyes begin their academic journey in this college and more than 60 percent of all UI undergraduate degrees are awarded here.
CLAS prepares undergraduates for professional career tracks through innovative programming, made possible by the college's donor-supported Excellence and Innovation fund. From aiding aspiring attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds to developing the next generation of space physicists—CLAS offers unique, supportive programs that enable students to go places that may not otherwise be possible.
Creating life-changing opportunities
The CLAS Excellence and Innovation fund supports initiatives like the college’s Law School Readiness Program, which narrows the information and financial gap for underrepresented and minority students considering law school while also providing one-on-one mentoring and support.
“It [the law school readiness program] is really tailored to what affects minority and first-gen students, and really helps us get the resources we need to properly apply to law school,” Maryam Mohammed, a second-year student studying International Relations in the college, said.
Edge of Space, a course where students design, build, and fly instruments, has also benefited from private support directed to this fund, giving students hands-on experience with instrumentation that is hard to find anywhere else.
“The class [Edge of Space] showed me a whole different side of sending things up for flight, the whole process around a successful flight, including all the bumps that may come along the way,” Noelle Beam, a 2021 graduate of the college’s Department of Physics and Astronomy said after taking the course.
The transformative impact of your support
Donations from alumni and friends of the college are essential for unique programs like these to succeed and help students.
“These types of programs have a life-changing impact on our students," College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Sara Sanders says. “And they simply would not happen without the support of generous alumni and donors who are helping our students achieve excellence.”
On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, during One Day for Iowa, the UI’s 24-hour online giving day, Dean Sanders and the college's senior leadership team will match gifts made to the CLAS Excellence and Innovation fund up to $2,400.
MATCH MY GIFT
You can support this fund and the nearly 40 CLAS programs that are participating during the giving day. This includes posting on your favorite social media using #1DayForIowa. Your posts could earn an additional $250-500 for your favorite programs.
To learn more about how you can give back during the giving day, visit 1day.uiowa.edu.