Iowa State University Strategic Plan 2022-2031

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY’S FOCUS ON INNOVATION ENLIVENS OUR MISSION, VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS. THIS PLAN TO EXCEL INFUSES INNOVATION INTO THE ARCHITECTURE OF ISU’S FUTURE.”

- WENDY WINTERSTEEN, PRESIDENT

Iowa State University will create, share, and apply knowledge to make our students, Iowa, and the world better.

Iowa State University will advance the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

Iowa State University embraces the values of our Principles of Community (Respect, Purpose, Cooperation, Richness of Diversity, Freedom from Discrimination, Honest and Respectful Expression of Ideas), and the values of Access, Excellence, and Integrity.

Four pillars encompass the themes of acknowledged university areas of excellence.

These strengths are ingrained in the daily work and lives of our faculty, staff, and students, and have been proven time and again throughout Iowa State University's history. Intersected and interwoven throughout the pillars are our land-grant university hallmarks of teaching, research, service, and extension. Most importantly, the pillars give structure and direction on how we make a difference for our state and world in the years ahead.

Built into Iowa State's nine-year strategic plan is a regular process to invite new ideas that respond to a dynamic state, nation and world landscape, and that help the university achieve what it aspires "to be."

Beginning in the fall of 2022, and then repeating annually, there will be a call for faculty, staff and stakeholders to submit ideas for strategic projects. Senior Advisor to the President Sophia Magill will oversee the process. Submissions will be evaluated — and projects selected — based on how they align with strategic goals and priorities. To immediately jump-start the strategic plan, in June 2022 the university announced a set of nine investments funded by private, one-time support.

"What brings our plan alive is the inclusion of a strategic process to regularly capture new ideas to help us achieve what we aspire to be. I encourage you to be creative, think innovatively, and take the opportunity to submit your ideas. Thank you in advance — for your important role in demonstrating our impact as we make progress on our aspirations... for moving us closer to what Iowa State University wants to be."

— Wendy Wintersteen, President, Iowa State University

This link will be made live on an upcoming date during fall semester 2022.

FAQ answers on the strategic plan process will be filled in prior to the initial Call for Ideas.

FAQs

Download a PDF of the 2022-2031 Strategic Plan

Iowa State University's 2022-2031 Strategic Plan was the culmination of planning and development accomplished during the 2021-22 academic year. The university-wide collaborative process was led by a steering committee chaired by Vice President for Research Peter Dorhout. Four working groups comprised of more than 60 campus and community representatives represented the core of the effort. More than two dozen listening sessions and town hall meetings were held. Input was received from more than 200 survey responses and nearly 530 polling question responses. Overall, more than 500 faculty, staff, students, community members and stakeholders participated in the plan development process.

The ISU 2022-2031 Strategic Plan was approved by the Iowa Board of Regents at its June 2, 2022, meeting. On the same day, President Wendy Wintersteen announced plans to jump-start the strategic plan with $10.5 million in initial investments in high-priority initiatives linked to the plan's five strategic goals — the "to be" statements.

Senior Advisor to the President

Sophia Magill was named senior advisor to the president in the Office of the President in September 2022. Magill leads efforts to advance the goals outlined in the university's 2022-2031 strategic plan, federal relations and other strategic initiatives. She leads the review of proposals and develops priority recommendations for the president and senior leaders to invest in the most promising and strategic projects — overseeing the overall performance management and integration of university-wide initiatives to deliver upon performance goals.

In her federal relations responsibilities, she advocates on behalf of Iowa State University's federal priorities by promoting research, higher education and science activities in an effort to increase federal support and expand awareness of the university in Washington, D.C. Before joining the Office of the President in 2013, she served at the U.S. Agency for International Development. She has professional experience in government, higher education, and the non-profit sector, including the Office of Admissions at Iowa State University, the Iowa House of Representatives, Iowa's Office of the Governor and the White House.

Magill earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Iowa State University, where she served as Student Government President, and her master's degree in public administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

	Fall 2021 Baseline	5-year Milestone
Student-centric
Four-year retention	54.1%	56%
Six-year graduation	76.7%	78%
High-impact practices participation in 3+ activities	60%	Annual progress
Student loan debt upon graduation (median)	$22,754	Annual progress
% of students with loan debt	49%	Annual progress
Increase scholarship funding	$43M	3% increase over 5-year average

Inclusive Environment
Gaps in one-year retention for underrepresented students	2.5% to 6.3%	40% gap reduction
Gaps in graduation rates for underrepresented students	3.7% to 17.3%	2% rate increase

Lifelong Learning
Expand online programs to meet industry/state needs	Online enrollment: 657	30% enrollment increase, 2-4 new programs/credentials
Extension and Outreach program participation levels	# statewide direct and indirect adult and youth education contacts	Annual progress
Extension and Outreach program participation levels	# facilitated educational programs	Annual progress
Extension and Outreach program participation levels	Diversity of participants in programs compared to Iowa demographics	Annual progress
Extension and Outreach program participation levels	# of educational materials obtained from Extension Store	Annual progress
Extension and Outreach impact of learning programs	Changes in learning, behavior and/or life conditions as a result of engaging with programs/experiences	Annual progress
Extension and Outreach impact of partnerships	# partnerships, impact by topic and county	Annual progress

New Frontiers
Research funding (3-year rolling average of HERD expenditures)	$361M	3% increase/year
Intellectual property disclosures (technology and other)	144	Annual progress
Patents (new filed/active)	69 new, 319 active	Annual progress
Licensing revenue income	$3.2M	Annual progress

Innovative Solutions
Strategic industry partners and contracts	396 contracts	Annual progress
Industry funded contracts	$23.8M	Annual progress
Research Park partnerships (tenants, pre-incubator companies)	New in FY21: 10 tenants, 26 pre-incubator	Annual progress

2022-2031
Strategic Plan

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY’S FOCUS ON INNOVATION ENLIVENS OUR MISSION, VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS. THIS PLAN TO EXCEL INFUSES INNOVATION INTO THE ARCHITECTURE OF ISU’S FUTURE.”

Four pillars encompass the themes of acknowledged university areas of excellence.

Success Factors

Success Factors

Success Factors

Success Factors

Success Factors

FAQs

Who can submit a proposal?

When can proposals be submitted? What's the deadline?

What is the timeline for the next cycle of the process?

What information is required in a submission?

Am I limited to how many different proposals I can submit?

Who reviews the proposals?

When will decisions be made on investing in a new proposal?

If a proposal is accepted, what is the timeline to complete a project?

What is required to report a project's results, outcomes and success story?

Senior Advisor to the President