About the Challenge
The IOWA Challenge expresses important principles that help students succeed in the classroom and beyond. It establishes what The University of Iowa expects from its students, and what students should expect from themselves and each other. In essence, it’s a mission statement for UI students.
While the IOWA Challenge concept may be new, the expectations it cites are grounded in University of Iowa tradition. The Challenge offers time-tested strategies for success and underscores values that the University has honored for generations.
The IOWA Challenge message was composed by and for our University community, a grassroots statement of what it means to be a UI student.
It began as an initiative by the University’s Student Success Team, a group of students, faculty, and staff working to enhance undergraduate education. They surveyed the University community to identify essential expectations for UI students, then compiled the responses into a statement of common themes. From there, they worked with groups across campus to refine the statement and give it a name—The IOWA Challenge.
This web site offers an evolving resource for information about The IOWA Challenge. It will include advice to help students meet the Challenge and ideas for faculty and staff to help teach the challenge through academics and other programs.