Mission & Strategic Goals

Vision

The College of Arts and Sciences is the centerpiece of the liberal arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: an inclusive and collaborative community of critical thinkers, curious learners, and creative scholars working together to build a better world. 

Mission

By combining a signature liberal arts experience with the innovation and impact of a doctoral research university, CAS offers an inspired, forward-looking, inclusive education that bridges disciplines and intellectual perspectives. We advance research that addresses the world’s most pressing problems by linking the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. We empower our students to put the arts and sciences to work, and we prepare them for a lifetime of purpose, well-being, and professional success.  

Values

These five values, which emerged from conversations with faculty, students, and staff, will serve as a framework for CAS as we chart our course through strategic decision making, program innovation, and a shared commitment to scholarly impact, teaching excellence, and student success.

Collaboration and connection: Connecting disciplines, professions, and communities; honoring differences and working collaboratively to achieve common goals

Creativity and risk-taking: Solving complex problems through creative experimentation and expression; risking bold innovation rather than preserving the status quo.

Transformative learning and student success: Dynamic teaching, captivating coursework, and experiential learning opportunities that transform the way students see themselves and their potential in the world;

Impactful research and scholarship: Pursuing research and scholarship that addresses real needs, informs policy, and improves lives in our region and beyond