University Goals

1. Empower Students for a Lifetime of Success and Impact

Graduates of NC State will acquire the specific knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to both excel professionally and be leaders in advancing a productive and civil society. As a forward-thinking institution, we will be a leader in the digital transformation of higher education, designed to deliver value to our students and ensure the resiliency of our institution. Our students will be entrepreneurial, independent and inclusive thinkers, strong in their disciplines and experienced in interdisciplinary collaboration, prepared to contribute impactfully to global society.

2. Ensure Preeminence in Research, Scholarship, Innovation and Collaboration

NC State’s community of researchers and scholars — infused with our unique combination of innovation and collaboration steeped in a tradition of deep thought and practical application — is a key strategic advantage. We are strongly committed to our disciplines and to working across traditional disciplinary boundaries. We will devote attention and resources to developing and leveraging our spheres of excellence to enable maximum impact and expand and enhance our excellence in response to societal need and the public good. We will focus on the critical institutional support required to advance operational excellence in our internal assessments, processes and procedures to most effectively support NC State researchers and scholars to advance the university’s mission. With continued commitment to research, scholarship, innovation and collaboration, NC State will respond to — and provide solutions for — the world’s greatest problems, ensuring its place as a preeminent research institution.

3. Expand and Advance Our Engagement With and Service to North Carolina and Beyond, Defining the Standard for a 21st-Century Land-Grant University

NC State’s roots as a land-grant university has impacted countless individuals and communities since our inception in 1887. NC State’s service has expanded beyond our traditional roots in agriculture and industrial extension to touch a variety of disciplines — from education to business to global health. We are committed to advancing our service to the citizens of our state by delivering broader, tangible impacts that improve the lives of individuals every day. We commit to serving as a solutions center for the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our state, nation and world.

4. Champion a Culture of Belonging and Well-Being in All We Do

We commit to creating systemic and sustainable change across the university that improves our campus culture and empowers NC State to be a safe and supportive environment for all. As an institution, we must assure an equitable, accessible and welcoming environment so that all members of the Wolfpack community – specifically those in under-served populations – feel safe, respected, valued and a sense of belonging in every corner of campus. We will work to ensure diverse perspectives are embraced at all levels, in all processes, and through all decisions. We will work to promote the health and well-being of our campus community. We seek to invest our minds and our hearts at the individual level, and our capacity and resources at the institutional level, in order to bring about and sustain needed change in a way that champions belonging and well-being at NC State.

5. Improve University Effectiveness Through Transformational Technologies, Cutting-Edge Processes and Actionable Data

NC State strives to exceed university best practices through customer service, employee engagement and resource management using collaborative processes to leverage data and technology. We will pursue emerging technologies that connect and empower our campus community. We will be agile and flexible in adapting to change and the evolving needs of our students, faculty and staff. NC State commits to utilizing actionable intelligence to engage in more strategically focused planning and decision-making activities that benefit our students, staff, faculty, partners and the broader community. We will attain greater efficiency and effectiveness to ensure the resiliency of our institution.

6. Lead in Developing Innovative Partnerships, Entrepreneurial Thinking and Applied Problem-Solving

At NC State, we recognize that many of society’s toughest problems can only be solved through powerful multi-disciplinary partnerships and an entrepreneurial approach. Our partnerships are numerous and varied, including academic, industry, government and non-profit. These partnerships are seen right here on campus, as well as across the state and around the world. We will aggressively pull down barriers and achieve success through an ongoing commitment to innovative partnerships that bring together the brightest minds in industry, government and the academy to creatively tackle the great global challenges. Through innovative partnerships, academics, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities, we will continue to fuel and elevate NC State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

7. Elevate the National and Global Reputation and Visibility of NC State

NC State has the opportunity to greatly amplify awareness of our strong brand and elevate our reputation to help achieve strategic goals. To that end, we will establish and continuously promote an inclusive campuswide culture of teamwork, intentionality and awareness regarding brand and reputation strategies and tactics. We commit to leading and supporting universitywide systems and efforts that elevate regional, national and international awareness and impact of NC State’s differentiators, competitive advantages and broad excellence. We will empower the campus community and key partners to be impactful brand champions. We will position NC State as a national and international leader in key areas of strength and opportunity that will continually advance the brand and reputation of the university.