Mission and Values

Delivering on the university’s land-grant mission, with talented and diverse faculty, students, and staff, the College of Art and Architecture contributes to the well-being of statewide and global communities through innovative design education that promotes sustainability, access, economic resiliency, cultural vibrancy, and the common good.

Our contributions to culture, identity, and livability emerge from a strong art and design foundation and thrives through our college-wide commitment to design integration. The work of our graduates’ results in built, natural, social, and virtual environments that enrich our world.

The College of Art and Architecture empowers the next generation of artists and designers to positively impact our rapidly changing world. Through the leadership of a diverse faculty, we design with communities and industry partners; we inspire innovation in design and research; and we infuse empathy, storytelling, placemaking, and the utmost creativity in everything we do.

We are makers; we embrace studio culture. We empower our students to learn through doing.

We seek opportunities to collaborate. We provide leadership in our disciplines, education, and industry.

We are communicators; through open, honest exchange and reflection, we develop information that informs well-conceived creative work and powerful education.

We are mentors and role models – we seek to inspire, recognizing that brilliance in spirit elevates us all.

We are part of the creative economy– we recognize and promote the economic value and contributions of art, design, and architecture.

We foster inclusivity and advocacy – diversity contributes to our collective strength.

We are self-empowered individuals – we act with integrity and responsibility.

We are resilient – we foster a culture that recognizes we must adapt to future challenges in creative professions.

We recognize our responsibility to our colleagues – we endeavor to support each other in our individual successes which contribute to our collective success.

We strive to continuously improve.

LEAD
1. Harness the power of design and creativity in our teaching, research, service, and administration, resourcefully using the tools of our professions to openly impact how we teach, learn, and operate as a college.
2. Assume a leadership role in the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan seeking out opportunities and funding for interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding classes which attract students from other colleges, and making classes provided by other colleges an integral part of our students’ learning.
3. Develop the knowledge and skills to use current and future technologies both critically and effectively across all programs.

INNOVATE
4. Enhance the role of design research in learning and innovation university wide.
5. Support needed research facilities that can actively foster our college’s mission.
6. Expand integrated learning and collaboration through a college-wide foundations program that prepares students for the interdisciplinary world in which they will work and develop creative solutions through integrated design and collaboration.

EMPOWER
7. Work strategically to maintain and increase enrollment in alignment with budget metrics for the University.
8. Create dynamic physical and virtual college centers that continuously bring the students and faculty of all programs together, providing interdisciplinary dialogue, investment in our shared performance and moments to celebrate our connective success.
9. Nurture a culture that draws faculty, students, and alumni together in a commitment to the sustained health and success of the college, the University of Idaho, and the state of Idaho.
10. Provide investment for all programs to be strong individually, further enhancing their capacity for contribution and collaboration.

COLLABORATE
11. Establish active development programs with our alumni and constituents by providing ongoing support to the advisory board, department subcommittees, and all college alumni, for purposes of:

- Raising awareness of our programs and successes.
- Inviting input on our programs.
- Creating a network for student recruiting and internships.
- Acquiring additional resources and financial support.
- Ensuring a base of enthusiastic and influential advocates.

12. Expand and profile outreach programs that provide service-learning opportunities for students and faculty, support our programs, and enrich the quality-of-life of communities served.
13. Foster cross-college collaboration and, integrated design approaches in the support of university advancements.
14. Increase engagement with industry and seek partnerships in supporting internships for students across the college.

STEWARD
15. Proactively assess the current and forecasted needs of the professional markets to ensure that our programs are providing students with the required knowledge and skills to maintain a competitive advantage in their desired fields.
16. Expand and improve our focus on inclusive, sustainable, and regenerative design throughout the college.
17. Promote stewardship of the environment, both built and natural, by practicing and exhibiting our design leadership.
18. Engage in a college-wide assessment every three years focused on advancing the synergies of our unique programs and maximizing the utilization of our resources including people, facilities, and funds.