The mission of the School of Art and Design at WCU is to serve as an academic program and public resource dedicated to creativity and excellence in the visual arts. By providing opportunities to learn about, experience and create art and design, the School affirms that visual art and design are an essential part of the human experience, having the power to communicate, to improve the quality of life, to challenge, to educate and to delight.
Through teaching, professional activities and service, the School of Art and Design is committed to providing academic and cultural programs of distinction that will improve the intellectual and cultural life of the campus and engage the surrounding community. The School of Art and Design places the activities of its faculty and students in the contest of a larger world, and strives for both currency within the discipline and the highest standards of excellence.
Fundamental Purpose:
The School of Art and Design is committed to the teaching of Art and Design and the preparation of students for careers as artists, teachers, and art/design professionals. Our primary goal is to provide the best educational experience possible for students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees, or taking courses in our offered areas. This includes activities both inside and outside the classroom that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and the free exchange of ideas and a commitment to productivity. The School maintains the highest standards for its faculty, who in turn set high expectations for their students.
Our mission requires that the faculty have the highest qualifications in their discipline
and is continually active in their scholarship, creative projects and professional
activities. It is the conviction of the School of Art and Design that the professional
activity of faculty results in direct benefits to the students, including both currency
of information and access to professional contacts. An effective faculty must be active
in their own field to ensure that their teaching is relevant to the larger world that
students enter upon graduation.