1.3 Mission

The University of Alabama System Mission states that “The University of Alabama System, an institution of higher education created for learning, exists to improve the lives of everyone we affect through the teaching, research, and service rendered by our component campuses and health system.”

1.3.1 The University of Alabama System

The three-campus University of Alabama system has an impressive record of service to the people of the state. From its beginnings as Alabama’s first university, it has traditionally provided educational leadership for the state and should continue to do so. Its role is to serve all the people of the state through teaching, research, and public service and, as resources permit, respond to both national and international needs.

The Board of Trustees clearly recognizes the diverse and comprehensive nature of the University of Alabama System. It provides instruction for students at all levels. It supports graduate education and research. It is committed to broad public service. The extraordinary degree to which the state’s economy is dependent upon the results of research and technology leads the Trustees to reaffirm The University of Alabama System’s commitment to both pure and applied research, a function especially appropriate to this university’s system. Professional education is equally important to Alabama. None of these, however, overshadows The University of Alabama System’s commitment to the instruction of undergraduate students.

1.3.2 The University of Alabama at Birmingham

As part of its 2018-2023 strategic planning, UAB adopted the following vision statement, “One university inspiring and empowering the creation of knowledge that changes the world.”

This vision is accomplished through a mission that states, “UAB serves students, patients, the community and the global need for discovery, knowledge dissemination, education, creativity and the application of groundbreaking solutions. We are a leader among comprehensive public urban research universities with academic medical centers.”

Shared Values supporting the mission.

Integrity – We act ethically and do what is right.
Respect – We treat others with courtesy and civility.
Diversity and inclusiveness – Everybody counts every day. We actively seek varied perspectives in our decision-making.
Collaboration – We trust each other and work cooperatively across disciplinary boundaries in the spirit of shared governance.
Excellence and achievement – We constantly innovate, solve problems and improve ourselves and others through learning.
Stewardship – Fiscal and environmental sustainability guide our decisions.
Accountability – We are answerable to each other and act with the best interests of the university in mind.

The foundation of the university mission rests on four fundamental pillars.

Education: Provide 21st century, world-class, socially responsible education that prepares diverse students to lead, teach, provide professional services, and become prominent scholars and societal leaders of the future.
Research, Innovation and Economic Development: Pursue research, scholarship and creative activities that spur innovation, make UAB a vibrant cultural center, and expand our capability to continually discover and share new knowledge.
Community Engagement: Encourage partnerships that advance education, the arts and humanities, health, economic prosperity, and a fulfilling quality of life through service at home and around the globe.
Patient Care: Deliver the highest-quality patient care that reflects our ability to translate discoveries into revolutionary therapies in one of the nation’s largest academic medical centers.

Further information, including priorities and summaries, is maintained on UAB's website.