Values Culture

On September 1, 2023, the Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts launched a collaborative effort to identify and define a set of shared values during a two-day Values Summit. More than 50 faculty, staff, and students came together to shape a common foundation of guiding principles that would promote daily accountability and unify the college community. During the summit, participants articulated key values and the behaviors that embody them. Following this initial work, additional members from across the college took part in town hall meetings to refine the language and ensure broad alignment.

Through this collective process, the Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts established five core values: Curiosity, Principled Conduct, Sense of Community, Creativity, and Care.

Download TCVPA Shared Values Flyer

 

CURIOSITY

Fostering the pursuit of life-long learning

• Inspire artistic innovation through intentional questioning
• Commit to openness, self-reflection, and new perspectives
• Cultivate a brave space for experimentation
• Nurture your passion

PRINCIPLED CONDUCT

Upholding a high standard of personal behavior

• Practice accountability for your work and actions
• Define and implement shared standards in fair and consistent ways
• Listen to understand; respond with humility and mindfulness
• Approach endeavors with integrity and courage
• Apply ethical reasoning
• Provide constructive and supportive evaluation

SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Sharing purpose and direction

• Encourage meaningful collaboration and engagement
• Connect with communities through the arts
• Cultivate mutual respect
• Facilitate access and opportunity

CREATIVITY

Generating ideas, enriching perspectives, and seeking solutions

• Embrace challenges, risk-taking, and resiliency through artistic pursuit
• Approach problem-solving in an open-minded manner that draws from varying perspectives
• Explore, inquire, reflect, and respond
• Recognize the value of experimentation and trust the process

CARE

Creating sustainable and nurturing environments

• Practice empathy, allyship, stewardship, and self-care
• Model compassion, generosity, honesty, and openness
• Manage resources to allow all to flourish
• Advocate for health, safety, and education of others’ well-being on campus and beyond

Guided by the leadership from the Texas Tech University System, the TCVPA followed the process of moving toward a Values Culture organization.