University Initiatives

Yale’s mission is to improve the world today and for generations to come through outstanding research and scholarship, education, preservation, and practice. Formalized in 2016 after conversations and consultations with faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the university initiatives identify four pillars of strategic emphasis to advance that mission.

The vision for Yale’s future is powered by the work of all members of the Yale community and is supported by the contributions of alumni, parents, and friends through the For Humanity Campaign.

Explore the Initiatives

These four pillars build on the university’s signature strengths and guide investment to areas where Yale can have an outsized impact. Each initiative supports Yale’s historic commitment to creating knowledge that benefits humanity and educates leaders of insight and integrity.

Arts and Humanities

The arts and humanities ask vital questions about ourselves and our place within the wider world. At Yale, through deep study and creative expression, meaningful answers are found.

A signature strength of Yale

Multidisciplinary Social Science

From inequality to international security, Yale’s social sciences emphasize data-based, policy-relevant research to provide lawmakers the informed solutions necessary to strengthen our society.

Addressing urgent—and emerging—challenges

Science and Engineering

Building on its reputation for excellence, Yale’s targeted strategy to accelerate science and engineering empowers our research community to expand the frontiers of human knowledge and ability.

Discoveries that matter

A medical student reviewing a lab specimen

Community Inclusion and Excellence

Yale’s groundbreaking research, meaningful discoveries, and new avenues of inquiry cannot be achieved without a diverse campus community dedicated to pursuing the knowledge that transforms our world.

Where differences are strengths