Academic distinction
WashU strives for excellence in research, education, and patient care. This tenet is the cornerstone of our institution — and its heart. It informs and inspires everything we do. Our strategic plan will center academic distinction and advance this proud legacy for years to come.
Community impact
WashU aspires to have a positive impact on the growth of each person in our community (faculty, staff, students, and patients) as well as on the lives of all members of the surrounding St. Louis community. Our faculty, staff, and students are lifted up and inspired by the local communities with which we engage and where we reside. We will establish and sustain mutually enhancing relationships that elevate both Washington University and the surrounding community.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion
WashU aims to be a diverse community fully committed to the principles of equity, fairness, and inclusive excellence. We will pursue and value equity, diversity, and inclusion in our research, learning, clinical, and administrative environments so that we, collectively and individually, can benefit from the rich perspectives and contributions of individuals from all backgrounds.
Global perspective
WashU is firmly rooted in St Louis, and its vision of academic excellence extends beyond our local and national geography. The discovery and dissemination of knowledge is truly a global enterprise based on an environment of open collaboration and engagement with scholarship, challenges, and viewpoints around the world. We cherish the varied perspectives and practices that our international students, staff, and faculty bring to our community, and we value the intellectual fellowship we construct with our academic partners around the world.
Stewardship
WashU rests on the contributions of many generations that pushed the boundaries of knowledge and service, guaranteed the free expression of ideas, and sacrificed time and effort to build our institution. We will honor their careful stewardship by building on the spirit of their accomplishments and ensuring that the resources entrusted to our care grow in a sustainable way so that future generations will retain the ability to further the university’s mission in perpetuity.