Growing Our Future

PDF Version
Introduction
CALS’ Vision, Mission and Values
Strategic Plan Structure

Note: Click on the “+” (plus sign) to the left of each goal to view each goal’s key initiatives, success metrics and alignment with the NC State University strategic plan. You can also view the plan via Issu below.

Introduction

The world is changing—slowly in some instances and, in others, far more rapidly.

Population growth and shifting population patterns in rural and urban areas, rising food insecurity and health disparities, the aftereffects of an unprecedented pandemic, new technologies, and climate change are just several factors influencing how communities, institutions and economies throughout the world are planning for today and tomorrow. North Carolina is at the epicenter of these dynamics, both as a state experiencing the impacts of this changing landscape and one poised to thrive in the coming years.

CALS is positioned to be a force for embracing this change. CALS is fundamental to NC State’s land-grant mission—educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders, conducting innovative research on-campus and across the state to boldly solve complex challenges, and leveraging one of the world’s leading Extension programs to connect that research to millions of North Carolinians in 100 counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. And our students are prepared for today’s positions and those of the future. Throughout our college’s history, we have generated remarkable community and economic impact while building capacity and capability among North Carolinians to anticipate change and thrive in response to it, with our students well prepared for today’s challenges and those of the future. We are making these impacts not just in North Carolina, but across the globe.

An uncertain future requires thoughtful, visionary planning within a framework that allows for—and counts on—changing conditions. In spring 2021, our leadership at CALS began a process to chart our course through 2030 with a clear mandate: to leverage this process toward becoming the best land-grant university in the country and the best place to learn and work for everyone. The results of more than a year of conversations, listening sessions, focus groups, surveys, research and discovery are contained within this plan, with priorities, goals and strategies designed to deliver on these initial charges. This plan is structured to be nimble and responsive to the inevitable change thatoccurs over nearly a decade—featuring clear definition where appropriate and simply building parameters where necessary, enabling innovation and discovery that can provide additional context and impact years into the future.

A Plan Driven and Defined by Engagement

The process to guide this plan’s development was intentionally designed with a bottom-up approach, giving all a voice. Our leadership recognized that planning for the future requires the vision and dedication of all parties involved. Over 11,000 people answered that call, providing input and data that have been crucial in helping elevate focus areas, topics and initiatives throughout this plan. From faculty, staff and students to growers, industry partners and Extension program participants, our engagement with CALS’ many internal and external constituencies was broad and deep.

A Plan Focused on People

People are at the heart of everything we do, and we seek to preserve this philosophy in the coming years. We are all part of the Wolfpack—as such, we will build and promote a culture within CALS that enables our commitment to excellence, integrity and equality, recognizes and appreciates success, and connects our actions to our core values. These are not simply words on a page; they are actions we will take and expectations we will set for all members of our CALS community. We also aim to make long-term, strategic investments in our people and the systems, processes and infrastructure that enable them to do their best work in learning, conducting research and serving all of our many stakeholders. We will make these same investments in the communities we serve, recognizing that we must focus on equitably supporting, integrating into, and learning and recruiting from the diverse areas of our state. The work that will take place through this plan will be crucial in elevating that impact, conducting research and translating results into real-world solutions that will benefit North Carolinians and the world for years to come.

A Plan for a Sustainable Future

The past several years have only further demonstrated how the world around us is changing and how these changes affect how the world learns, lives, works and grows. Population growth, health disparities, food inequities, evolving farming practices, and climate change are real challenges requiring distinct strategies and solutions. CALS is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by staying at the forefront of science and discovery, aligning research, teaching and Extension to benefit a more sustainable North Carolina, and then sharing lessons learned with billions throughout the world. Sustainability in education is crucial in meeting these needs, and our learners are eager to be a part of a sustainable future. Our research agenda is aggressive and touches all elements of sustainability, including biological systems, the environment, food stability, infrastructure, resilience and more. In implementing this agenda, we will continue collaborating with our many partners while expanding these partnerships to drive even greater interdisciplinary collaboration. In viewing everything we do through the lens of sustainability, we are helping to ensure a more sustainable state, nation and world.

A Plan That Connects CALS

Connectivity is the thread that binds all those in the CALS ecosystem and elevates our work and impact—from Mills River and Plymouth to Goldsboro and Raleigh. With researchers conducting new and novel research throughout the state and Extension agents working with communities in every county and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, there is limitless opportunity to leverage this footprint and propel our college’s work to unprecedented heights. To maximize this impact, our college must genuinely function as one interconnected ecosystem in which we constantly strive for greater integration of all members of our community, recognizing the importance of both on and off-campus work. It also means greater integration of and investment in our physical and digital infrastructure—from labs and greenhouses to research stations throughout the state. Externally, the connections we make and sustain help amplify our work, whether it is through stronger engagement with our alumni, enhancing industry partnerships or maximizing the value and impact of NC State Extension. The more connected we are in all we do at CALS, the more our state, world, and future generations will benefit.

CALS’ 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.

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.

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.

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 world-class science with everyday actions that empower people, strengthen communities, support economies and contribute to a healthier, safer and more resilient planet.

Strategic Plan Structure

This strategic plan is organized into three broad focus areas: People, Programs and Innovation.

These focus areas are supported by ten strategic priorities that outline what we seek to influence within each theme, goals that define success for CALS in a measurable way and the more tactical key initiatives that will help us achieve each goal and reinforce our ability to achieve our future vision. Each strategic priority features corresponding success metrics to measure our progress as this plan is implemented.

The same themes will be reflected in the CALS departmental and unit strategic plans, enabling all our stakeholders to clearly understand what our college is working toward and how they fit into that future. Additionally, all the strategic priorities and supporting elements align with the seven bold goals of Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary, NC State’s university-wide strategic plan. This strategic plan includes many of these same ideals and principles, thereby reinforcing the impact of these associated goals and initiatives within both CALS and the broader NC State ecosystem.