Our Vision, Mission, and Values

OUR VISION

Create sustainable social and economic prosperity and well-being for the state, nation and world through agriculture and life science discovery, learning and engagement.

OUR MISSION

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State leads partnership-driven discovery, learning and engagement. We prepare students, create and apply unbiased knowledge through advances in science and technology and drive economic development to improve the quality of life in North Carolina, our nation and the world. Our people fulfill the land-grant mission by embracing an interdisciplinary approach to achieve new scientific breakthroughs that translate into commercializable discoveries and meet grand challenges involving food, farming, fiber, feed, families, health, energy, water and the environment.

OUR VALUES

Living the land-grant mission.

This mission is core to our university identity and woven throughout CALS. We are focused on positively impacting our state and improving the lives of North Carolinians– through teaching in our classrooms, conducting world-class research in our labs and fields, and connecting academics and science with our North Carolina communities through Extension.

Collaboration. As members of the Wolfpack, we value the opinions and thoughts of others, recognizing outcomes are better when they are informed by diverse inputs and perspectives. Together with our partners, we are working to address our state, nation and world’s grandest challenges – generating impacts that are far greater than the sum of their parts.

Integrity. We take pride in our work, which builds trust and support among one another. We are reliable – we do what we say we will, with a focus on exceeding expectations. And above all, we are honest and ethical – we treat one another with respect, and we speak the truth. People-focused. Everything we do at CALS considers the well-being of people – in how we help people grow and develop, experience a sense of belonging, achieve their goals, change their lives and impact their economies and communities. We celebrate and emphasize the diversity of our CALS community and those we serve, maintaining a steadfast focus on building equitable and inclusive environments.

Sustainability. Our focus on sustainability is firmly aligned with the United Nations Member States, whose 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development features 17 Sustainable Development Goals and with ensuring the long-term viability of our industries. Everything we do at CALS connects with and accelerates how we will achieve these goals – combining worldclass science with everyday actions that empower people, strengthen communities, support economies and contribute to a healthier, safer and more resilient planet.