Public affairs is one of the university's five mission themes. The university has a special responsibility to educate students about social goals, public purposes, and the ethics of citizenship as well as to encourage students to have a personal sense of responsibility for the global society. Helping students to become responsible citizens takes time and deliberate effort on the part of all educators. Public affairs in higher education is not restricted to politics or the social sciences. It is the realm of all of life that requires knowledge, participation, civic skills, and the willingness to work for the common good.
Public affairs involves educating persons to become responsible citizens and leaders.
The university should define what a responsible citizen should be able to do and how the entire experience of higher education develops those abilities. Education in public affairs should be a recognizable, achievable, and measurable goal. Public affairs, while not a curriculum, must be present and expressed through all the disciplines. For example, scientific research dealing with the environment, health, and other issues clearly holds important implications for public policy and public affairs. In order to educate for public life, the university must foster a community where all individuals are called upon to act and to respond to public affairs issues and to develop a sense of public spiritedness as well as an understanding of multi-cultural concerns.