Statement of Purpose:

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University is a welcoming place for students, faculty, and staff dedicated to improving our understanding and use of agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences toward helping people and protecting the planet.

Our mission is to empower people with the skills and knowledge to improve global food security, protect the planet’s resources and agricultural capacity, and navigate a broad array of social challenges to the benefit of Iowa, the nation, and the world. We achieve this mission by translating discoveries and innovations into hands-on teaching and training for our students, for the people of Iowa, and beyond.

Because the challenges we face are complex, their solutions rest at the intersection of science, technology, policy, and human behavior. By design, all these approaches exist in CALS, and we are empowered to work together in alignment to achieve our vision for the future, where resources are sustainably managed and people achieve fulfilling lives and livelihoods, locally and globally.

Changing the world for the better takes teamwork in the form of focused commitment and shared goals. The CALS community includes people of many backgrounds and perspectives working together. We value the honest and respectful expression of ideas, richness of diversity, a culture of cooperation and belonging, and freedoms from discrimination.

In alignment with the ISU Strategic Plan, to be leaders across all aspects of the Land Grant mission, we organize our teaching, research, and extension + outreach activities under these Strategic Priorities