Happy first day of classes! The second half of the academic year is here, and we wish you a smooth start to the spring semester. 

As you prepare for the upcoming semester, keep in mind that CLAS Undergraduate Programs (CLAS UP) is here to support you, as well as students. Consider reminding yourself about how to support student mental health or how to handle situations where students are in distress.  

Additionally, these resources on the use of artificial intelligence tools in teaching might be helpful as you finalize your spring semester syllabus. 

Thank you for all you do and for being a part of CLAS. 

CLAS announcements

Photos from fall 2024 CLAS commencement

Over 500 undergraduate students graduated during last month’s ceremony. It was a joyous celebration for students and their loved ones. Thank you again to everyone who volunteered. Check out photos and highlights from commencement!

Employee updates

Please join us in welcoming and congratulating CLAS faculty and staff on their hiring, promotion, or transfer within the college. Check out this list of CLAS employee updates from last month.

Featured achievements

CSD and music faculty host inaugural Midwest Voice conference

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the School of Music collaborated to bring together speech and voice specialists from across the country for a daylong conference dedicated to the science, health, and art of the performing voice.

Bobrycki discusses new book in Q&A

Shane Bobrycki, assistant professor in the Department of History, discusses his recently released book, The Crowd in the Early Middle Ages, which examines the importance of collective behavior in early Middle Age Europe.

Spotlight CLAS

Conrad and Kutlu selected for CSSI's grant writing residency program

Aislinn Conrad, associate professor in the School of Social Work, and Ethan Kutlu assistant professor in linguistics and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, are among four faculty selected. They will work with the Center for Social Science Innovation on crafting their respective grant proposals. 

Gidal and graduate students travel around Iowa for interdisciplinary research project

Eric Gidal, a professor in the Department of English, led the humanities portion of an NSF-funded project focusing on collaboration between engineering, environmental sciences, and the humanities to create educational resources and imagine solutions to local problems. 

Check out more CLAS stories by visiting our news section. 

Upcoming events

Apply for the Obermann Writing Collective

Closes Friday, Jan. 24 

This program offers companionship and accountability to University of Iowa artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of academic writing project who want dedicated time, a cozy space, and a community for the practice of writing. There will be three write-on-site groups for the spring. 

Join CLAS Staff Council

CLAS Staff Council elections are coming up. If someone you know would be a good fit for the council, consider nominating them in early February. Learn more about nominations, voting, and why two current members got involved.

For more CLAS-specific events, visit the university events calendar.