The Mission of The University is to achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research, and public service. In pursuit of this mission. The Mission of the College of Engineering is to achieve excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service. In 1997, a task force comprised of faculty, staff and administrative leaders from across the campus, with strong representation from the College of Engineering, met over a period of several months to discuss and define the core purpose and values of The University of Texas at Austin. The outcome of their deliberations was summarized in a succinct statement that elegantly captures the spirit of The University.
Transformation is the heart and soul of engineering.
Our efforts must be directed at positively transforming the lives of our students and the societal beneficiaries of our research. Yet this ideal is what differentiates a great university from a training school. Building a sense of community, with the central purpose of learning and personal growth, is crucial to meeting our goal of greatness. As our profession becomes ever more deeply rooted in science, mathematics and computation, it is increasingly important that the spirit of discovery form the foundation of all our educational and research enterprises. We must create and maintain an environment that fosters this spirit.