Institutional Values

UNCSA exists to develop emerging artists and prepare them to excel in their disciplines, their lives and the evolving arts and entertainment industries. Our mission defines what we are here to accomplish. Our strategic plan identifies the priorities that move us forward. Our institutional values guide how we pursue that work together.

Community, Collaboration, Imagination, Integrity and Grit are enduring principles for how we learn, create, work, lead and make decisions. They establish shared expectations across roles, schools and disciplines and help us translate our mission and priorities into everyday actions.

Our Institutional Values

Community: We cultivate an environment where people feel welcomed, respected and invested in one another’s success. We recognize that the well-being, growth and contributions of each person strengthen the UNCSA community as a whole. 

Collaboration: We work across roles, schools, disciplines and perspectives toward shared goals. We listen, contribute our expertise and create the conditions for others to contribute theirs, knowing that our strongest learning, ideas and art emerge through meaningful partnership. 

Imagination: We approach artmaking, education, and institutional challenges with curiosity, creativity and openness. We explore new possibilities, question assumptions and bring fresh thinking to the future of our disciplines and our university. 

Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability. We align our decisions and conduct with our mission, honor our commitments and hold ourselves to high personal, professional and artistic standards. 

Grit: We pursue meaningful goals with discipline, resilience and adaptability. We learn through challenges, sustain our commitment to excellence and recognize that lasting achievement is supported by well-being, reflection and care for ourselves and others. 

Values in Action 

Our values are more than institutional language. They should be visible in how we: 

• Teach, learn and create 
• Treat and support one another 
• Communicate and collaborate 
• Make and explain decisions 
• Respond to challenges and feedback 
• Recognize contributions 
• Pursue institutional priorities 
• Hold ourselves and one another accountable 

The values remain constant even as strategies and initiatives evolve. Together, they provide a shared foundation for fulfilling UNCSA’s mission and shaping what comes next.