Mission Statement
Mission
The Department of Communication embraces the mission and values of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the principles of cutting-edge education in strategic and mass communication to provide students with an exceptional educational experience that incorporates multiple worldviews, builds understanding of multidimensional communication practices, and supports adaptability to the modern global communication environment. The Department is committed to developing leaders, innovators, and scholars who are well equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to take part in improving the human condition.
Values
The Department is devoted to education values that reflect the ever-broadening spectrum of ethical, scholarly, and civic interests that drive our fields of study:
1 Intellectual Curiosity, Creativity and Research: We encourage personal, scholarly and professional growth by guiding students’ pursuit of knowledge for its own inherent value and for improving the lives of students and their community; and by inspiring in them the creativity and critical thinking skills to serve others by transcending established ideas.
2 Tradition, Pluralism and Respect: We celebrate the worth and distinctiveness of local, regional, and global cultures inclusive of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and ability as they converge in creating a welcoming learning environment of respect, empathy, and esteem for all.
3 Equity and Fairness: We cultivate scholars and professionals who exemplify ethics, responsibility, and accountability as they strive to achieve and protect fair treatment and justice for all.
4 Integrity and Responsible Professionalism: We require stakeholders to demonstrate character, honesty and trustworthiness; and to manifest understanding of and appreciation for the principles of free speech, a free press, and the role of communication professionals in ethically shaping societal discourse.
5 Sustainability: We continually adapt to keep pace with the dynamic nature of modern, interactive media and to utilize resources in a forward-looking fashion that meets present and future needs effectively.
6 Transparency and Collaboration: We communicate and share information openly and readily in a spirit of teamwork and collegiality.
Vision
The Department envisions becoming a top-ranked program among its peers in terms of quality of education, student recruitment and retention, and professional job placement of our graduates. To achieve this vision, the department will take a leadership role in integrating teaching, research, and outreach activities through active, energetic and interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty, students, and citizens of global society. Our actions are guided by a shared commitment to integrity, truth, fairness, service, and open-mindedness. We are vigilant in our efforts to effectively adapt to our changing environment while preserving the values that define and drive our department. We encourage our students to be open-minded and adaptable to change in their professional lives. We are proud of the inclusive connectedness that describes the caring relationships we share among faculty, staff and students.