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About the College

STRATEGIC PLAN: GOAL 1

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

Broaden access and foster student fulfillment 
and success

As a public institution, UIC makes the creative disciplines visible and accessible to students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and communities. We know that creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational environment is both a moral obligation and a 
crucial means to shaping the future of CADA’s disciplines as they evolve.

We will continue to deliver a high-quality education in 
creative fields. CADA provides students the ability to receive hands-on, focused creative instruction as well as access to a broad range of liberal arts foundation courses. We focus not only on student academics, but also on supporting resiliency and well-being, preparing graduates for success in a broad range of professional fields. At the same time, we remember the intrinsic value of art: we make room for students to explore the creative process in ways that may not have a clear outcome but can lead to unexpected opportunities.

To broaden access and foster student fulfillment and success, we will:

1. Align pedagogy, curricula, and career preparation assistance through:

Continual review and update of pedagogy and curricula to reflect and advance CADA’s broader vision;



expansion and strengthening of all our academic offerings, including both the specialized and the interdisciplinary; and


ongoing attention to students’ participation in evolving professional fields, connections to the changing cultural landscape, and global learning opportunities.


2. Strengthen our outreach to and recruitment of diverse prospective students through:

Investment in relationships with K–12 public schools, especially those in communities whose members have 
been underrepresented in our fields;

streamlined admissions processes;

increased scholarship offerings; and



clearer pathways and reduced barriers for transfer students, where this appropriately intersects with disciplinary needs.


3. Cultivate students’ strong sense of belonging through initiatives such as:

Expansion of pre-first-year summer programs;



recruitment, hiring, and retention of a faculty that reflects the diversity and experiences of our student body; and

enhanced physical spaces for students to socialize, work together, and create community.


4. Promote students’ fulfillment and resilience through initiatives such as:

Increasing access to resources that support their mental health, including connections to campus-wide initiatives; and



strengthening peer and faculty-student mentorship programs and student-success initiatives.


5. Seek continuous improvement in students’ retention and graduation rates by:


Enhancing advising for all students through collaboration between CADA Student Affairs and the schools;



seeking continuous improvement of our student support systems so students have clarity about their paths; and



increasing resources for supplies and materials dedicated to student work.


6. Strengthen alumni engagement to increase our educational impact and connections, including expanding pathways toward internships and employment as well as philanthropic opportunities, through:

Coordinating, unifying, and supporting an infrastructure across schools that enhances alumni communication and engagement.


CONTENTS
Mission Dean’s Message History Board of Advisors