Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

The mission of the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (TCVPA) is to inspire and educate students by instilling the intellectual, artistic, and communication skills that prepare them for success in disciplinary achievement and in interdisciplinary collaboration, whether as performers, creators, investigators, or educators in visual arts, dance, music, or theatre. We prioritize students: world-class professionals offer programs that emphasize practice, theory, and experience in creating and studying imaginative work in traditional and contemporary formats. We provide all essential training for an outstanding education in art, dance, music, and theatre disciplines in integrative programs such as arts administration, and in interdisciplinary programs, whether within the Fine Arts, at the intersection of arts and medicine, or in new entrepreneurial areas emerging in the arts. We impart a distinctive education that bridges the gap between university and workplace.

Vision Statement

The J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts will be a distinguished global leader in interdisciplinary, creative, and scholarly arts education and research. We will champion the arts as relevant, critical, and essential to contemporary life. We will inspire our students to communicate through artistic tradition while embracing and creating innovative technologies as vehicles for individual expression and social change. The college will pursue university, regional, national, and international partnerships that complement our programs and provide unique and contemporary opportunities for our students and faculty. Arts performance research will inform our teaching, scholarship and creative activity. We take pride in the accomplishments of our faculty, students and alumni.

Strategic Plan

During the 2023 spring semester, the college held listening sessions with faculty and staff regarding strategic initiatives. On August 31-September 1, faculty, staff, and student representatives from each school and the college offices came together to participate in a Values Summit, working to identify our core values. These values will guide us in the reformation of our strategic planning. 
 
The initial guidance received during the listening sessions of 2023 gave us many valuable ideas on the topics of:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Curriculum
• Interdisciplinary opportunities
• Outreach
• Recruitment
• Support for:
  • faculty and staff
  • students
  • international opportunities

The core values identified by the representatives at the summit are:

• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Care  
• Principled Conduct
• Sense of Community

During the 2024 academic year we will continue having listening sessions and conversations, centered around our core values as we move ahead in the formation of a detailed strategic plan. We are excited for the possibilities in developing a clear path for the college and look forward to your participation in this important endeavor!