The College of Fine and Applied Arts is dedicated to the advancement, practice and understanding of the arts. The central focus of the College is the synergy between research and the preparation of students for professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the applied arts, visual arts, and the performing arts. Deeply related to that focus is the commitment to elevate and sustain the study of the arts as both a necessary mode of understanding and a vibrant expression of human experience within the local, national, and international communities.

The MISSION is carried out as follows:

• A commitment to quality education and teaching excellence;
• The creation of visual art objects, music compositions and performances, theatrical productions, dance choreography and repertory, and cross-disciplinary performances;
• The design of sustainable architecture, landscapes and plans that nurture communities and adhere to the highest professional standards
• The pursuit and dissemination of knowledge through scholarship, research, application and service; and
• The determination to balance the preservation of our artistic legacies with the desire for innovation within our artistic practices.

The College ENVISIONS itself as an international leader for research and practice in the arts with an emphasis on professional excellence, diversity, innovation, and preservation.