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Message from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Every day the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences positively impacts the lives of all North Carolinians.
From the food that nourishes us and the fiber that clothes us to the ornamentals that brighten our lives and provide ecosystem services – we work on the plants, animals and microbes that sustain us. We live our land-grant mission, supporting individuals, families, communities and businesses in our constant quest to improve lives and provide opportunities for all across our state.
We research the basic fundamentals of biology, agriculture and ecosystems; of family and community dynamics; of physics, data and technology; and of educational and extension theory. We turn that basic knowledge into innovation that delivers new technologies, new crops and livestock, new processes, and new ways of addressing challenges on our farms and in our homes, communities and businesses. We bring knowledge to our students and external constituents, and we educate and train the people who make all of this happen.
We are a large college supporting one of the most populous states and one of the largest agricultural and life science economies in the country. We are in all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. We have projects and cooperators across North Carolina, the U.S. and globally.
The college strategic plan is intended to guide our work and impact through 2030, but we are also using it as the foundation for how we prepare for the next 50 years – putting in place adaptable programs that will allow us to address future needs. As we have seen with our previous strategic plan, we cannot predict the changes and issues that await us – but we can prepare, be nimble and be ready.
As the need for what we do increases, our college will continue rising to the challenge. But we must do so in a thoughtful, planned way to ensure that we are not only meeting new challenges but continuing to address existing ones.
To our students: We want to provide you with the technical knowledge and professional skills to succeed – not only while you are here at NC State, but for your entire career. Our faculty have long provided high-quality educational experiences. Today, your needs and expectations and those of your future employers are higher than ever. This plan will drive how we continue to innovate in our teaching, in the classroom and through high-impact practices. We want to ensure your success now and many years into the future.
To our faculty and staff: Thank you! You are the heart and soul of the college. You do the important work that impacts so many people. Our plan is focused on your well-being – ensuring you are supported and know you belong in our college. This plan will drive actions that help you do your work more efficiently and effectively, regardless of where you are located and in what unit you are working. We thank you for your energy, enthusiasm and ideas as we have created this plan together.
Successful sustainability pursues balanced, ethical solutions that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially just so that current and future generations may thrive.
To our departments, centers, counties, stations, and college offices and programs: This plan will strengthen your organizations by supporting your people, driving more efficient processes, helping to guide investments in our facilities, and helping you adapt to change. Our college is strong if our units are strong.
To our external stakeholders: This plan shows our commitment to your success, to addressing your needs and to supporting our continued collaboration. We want you to thrive and prosper in a sustainable way. For our commodity stakeholders: You will not see a list of crops and groups in this plan simply because there are so many of you to name. Rest assured that we have had you top of mind in creating this plan. A strong, well-functioning college is needed to support our faculty and staff, allowing them to focus on their core research, academic and Extension duties and provide what you need. We have heard your concerns about training employees, supporting rural North Carolina, and communicating the importance of agriculture and life science industries to North Carolinians. You will see all of that in this plan and more. And we are planning new, more effective ways of engaging with you in the future.
To our partners within and outside the university: This plan shows our appreciation for your support and our commitment to deepening our interactions. We cannot make the daily impact we do without you. From NC State Undergraduate Admissions and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, to all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, it takes all of us to do this work. We have formal and informal cooperative programs with all of the colleges at NC State, mutually supporting one another and bringing your expertise to our work. We work together to build and sustain an entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping to move research concepts from the laboratory and accelerate them into a commercial setting. Our industry partners are spread across the state and the globe, working with us on collaborative research and driving world-class innovation and discovery. Our partners support us, encourage us and, at times, challenge us to do better.
In closing, we launched this strategic planning process with a directive from former Dean Richard Linton: To create the best place to learn and work and to create the best land grant in the country. With your help, and through this strategic plan, we will do just that.
