College of Liberal Arts Goals and Values

CLA Mission Statement

The College of Liberal Arts takes pride in its role as the intellectual foundation of the university, teaching essential skills through courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences. As an engaged and collaborative community of students, faculty, and staff, CLA provides a rigorous and relevant scholarly environment where our major and minor programs equip students with career ready skills to thrive in their chosen professions, as lifelong learners, and contributing members of society. Our caring staff and expert faculty demonstrate excellence through innovative teaching and learning, research, creative activity, and service that inspires transformative growth for individuals and communities

Goals

1. We will support faculty, staff, and students in the College of Liberal Arts by fostering fair and balanced workloads, enhancing staff and faculty recruitment and retention, investing in professional development and advancement opportunities, increasing support for faculty research and grant activity, and strengthening student engagement through expanded mentoring and financial support for co- and extra-curricular experiences. 
   
2. We will promote curricular innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration by developing new programs and initiatives, expanding support for innovative teaching, integrating liberal arts and career readiness skills into our courses, and enhancing the visibility of liberal arts in the broader curriculum. 
   
3. We aim to recognize the unique contributions of every CLA member and to foster belonging through enrichment programs, wellness support (such as microgrants), and celebration of excellence. Inclusive and intentional programming will continue to build strong interpersonal and professional networks within the college. 
   
4. CLA will take meaningful steps to include online-only students in the college community. This includes adapting programs like LAMP, supporting faculty in working with online learners, and offering virtual access to events and resources. 
   
5. Physical space shapes our experience. We will advocate for a new CLA building and improve existing spaces to foster collaboration. We also will aim to establish regular, shared gathering times and locations that facilitate informal and formal interaction. 
   
6. We will strengthen advocacy for the liberal arts by equippng students, faculty, and alumni to articulate their skills, expanding community partnerships, and tailoring outreach to support recruitment, retention, and pathways into the liberal arts. 
   
7. We aim to cultivate a culture of clear communication and efficient operations by improving internal information flow, standardizing processes, promoting CLA achievements, and enhancing transparency through regular updates and feedback mechanisms.