Excellence in Learning and Discovery

The Gallaudet Promise:
Our 10-Year Vision

Gallaudet’s 10-Year Vision (2020-2030)

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What is the Gallaudet Promise?

It is a vision toward a sustainable and vibrant experience for our University, which is a beacon to impact and elevate the community of Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deaf Disabled, Hard of Hearing people, and all of humanity.

Phase Two Strategic Plan (2023 - 2027)

We are in Phase Two of the Gallaudet Promise strategic plan. The Phase Two plan has four strategic goals which are listed below. Scroll down to learn more.

UNRIVALED academic excellence

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Objective 1.1 Model and create pathways for bilingual teaching and learning across the lifespan.

Objective 1.2 Develop innovative programs for learning.

Objective 1.3 Establish robust planning, data collection and measurement tools.

Goal #1 – UNRIVALED academic excellence

Objective 1.1

Model and create pathways for bilingual teaching and learning across the lifespan.

Objective 1.2

Develop innovative programs for learning.

Objective 1.3

Establish robust planning, data collection and measurement tools.

CHAMP student experience

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Objective 2.1 Cultivate student wellness and well-being.

Objective 2.2 Center campus spaces around students.

Objective 2.3 invest in student leadership and engagement.

Goal #2 – CHAMP student experience

Objective 2.1

Cultivate student wellness and well-being

Objective 2.2

Center campus spaces around students.

Objective 2.3

Invest in student leadership and engagement.

All Deaf THRIVE

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Objective 3.1 Create networked pathways.

Objective 3.2 Collaborate globally with Deaf communities.

Objective 3.3 Expand and strengthen sign language commerce and ecosystem.

Goal #3 – All Deaf THRIVE

Objective 3.1

Create networked pathways.

Objective 3.2

Collaborate globally with Deaf communities.

Objective 3.3

Expand and strengthen sign language commerce and ecosystem.

We are HOME

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Objective 4.1 Provide an experience of belonging and engagement for all members of the community.

Objective 4.2 Promote operational excellence.

Objective 4.3 Actualize the campus plan and virtual life vision.

Goal #4 – We are HOME

Objective 4.1

Provide an experience of belonging and engagement for all members of the community.

Objective 4.2

Promote operational excellence.

Objective 4.3

Actualize the campus plan and virtual life vision.

Phase One Strategic Plan (2020 - 2023)

Phase One set the foundation for our current transformation. To review the Phase One strategic plan and the celebration videos at its conclusion, please see the buttons below:

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Learn more about the Gallaudet Promise

Gallaudet University and its communities are in a transformative state of “becoming”. Gallaudet has committed to a path of becoming that serves as a beacon for the University communities’ values, work, and opportunities for discovery and advancement.

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Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind her saying "Phase 1 Plan #4: Academic Reimagining"

Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind her saying "Phase 1 Plan #5: Creativity Way and The Louise B. Miller Memorial Pathways & Gardens: A Legacy for Black Deaf Children"

The Gallaudet Promise: An Overview

In this video, President Cordano reviews the different parts of the Gallaudet Promise:

The Five Grand Challenges
Three Imperatives
Three Priorities
The Phase One Strategic Plan

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Gallaudet Promise
Imperatives & Priorities

The Imperatives and Priorities in the Gallaudet Promise have different functions, but they work together closely. The imperatives are our community’s most central values.

Bilingual Mission

Belonging and Equity

Innovation for Impact

The priorities are our most important work to transform Gallaudet University and the lives of deaf people of all identities. Together with the imperatives they are essential for our transformation.

Extraordinary Learning Across the Lifespan

Knowledge Creation & Discovery

Ecosystems and Career Success

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Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind him saying "Imperative #2: Belonging and Equity"

Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind her saying "Imperative #3: Innovation For Impact"

Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind her saying "Priority #1: Extraordinary Learning Across The Lifespan"

Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind her saying "Priority #2: Knowledge Creation & Discovery"

Play Video about A person signing to the camera with text behind him saying "Priority #3: Signing Ecosystems & Career Success"

What You Can Do

How can you make the Gallaudet Promise a reality for all you do? Here are three ways:

You can check Gallaudet’s progress of transformation on the dashboard of the Envisio website.

You can reflect on the guided questions in the following video.

Share your stories and see how they all weave together to transform the university and its communities.

Become. Together. Stronger. Brighter.

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The Gallaudet Promise Community Values

Gallaudet is our space where the Deaf experience and sign language vibrancy and vitality thrive. By acting together for the greater good of our students and our community, we create a better world. Our values reflect our human connection to each other. Values make a difference when each of us actively applies them as we learn, work and engage with each other.

The Deaf Experience and Intersectionality - Honor the Deaf experience across the spectrum of identities and intersectionalities.

Being Bilingual - Embrace and prompt bilingual communication and sign language vibrancy as the essence of our connection as a community

Belonging - Create a campus that leverages the rich diversity of identities, cultures, linguistic backgrounds, languages, and life experiences leading to equitable opportunities, full access, and a deep sense of belonging for all.

Lifelong Learning and Adaptability - Foster curiosity and adaptability about new and differing perspectives as the foundation for learning, research, discovery, and individual and community growth.

Trust and Respect - Act with personal and professional integrity to create a culture that reflects respect for ourselves, our campus, our community, and our planet.

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Gallaudet values reflect our human connection to each other. Values make a difference when each of us actively applies them as we learn, work and engage with each other. View to see all of our Shared Community Values.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gallaudet Promise?

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What is the Gallaudet Promise?

It is a 10 year vision of transformation, beginning in 2020, continuing through 2030.

This vision of transformation uses three values [imperatives]

and daily work [priorities] in our process

This structure guides the University in supporting students work towards success,

and lift the lives of Deaf people across the spectrum of identities.

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The Gallaudet Promise is a 10-year transformative vision, taking place from 2020 to 2030. Using a set of value-driven imperatives and priorities (daily work), this transformative vision helps guide the University to position its students for success, and elevate the lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people of different identities and backgrounds.

What are the Five Grand Challenges?

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The Five Grand Challenges are transformational opportunities.

The University will show the intersectional Deaf Way to the world,

through innovative research and community building.

The method of researching and community building is a part of

Gallaudet’s role in retelling Deaf stories for the purpose of

advancing the lives of Deaf people across the spectrum of identities.

Five Grand Challenges include the following:

Demonstrating the benefits of an ASL/English education;

Expanding the impact of Gallaudet’s creative edge;

Realizing the value of Deaf people across the spectrum of identities;

Creating pathways to success for Gallaudet students and graduates;

Cultivating and producing opportunities in both ASL and English based economies.

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Those five challenges are transformational opportunities the university will take on to broadcast our Deaf Way to the world through innovative research and community building. This interaction is a part of Gallaudet’s retelling of our story to advance the lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people of different identities and backgrounds. The Five Grand Challenges include the following: 1. Demonstrating the benefits of an ASL/English education 2. Expanding the impact of Gallaudet’s creative edge 3. Realizing the value of Deaf people across the spectrum of identities 4. Creating pathways to success for Gallaudet students and graduates 5. Cultivating opportunities in both ASL and English-based economies

What are the three imperatives?

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What are the three imperatives?

These three imperatives are requirements led by values.

The requirements are part of our daily work,

in alignment with our strategic priorities.

The success of the three strategic priorities depends

on our mastery and integration of the imperatives.

We must continually model our values through innovation, here at Gallaudet.

We must practice the three imperatives

at all times, alongside our strategic priorities.

They include:

Bilingual Mission;

Commitment to Belonging and Equity;

Belief in Innovation for Impact;

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These three imperatives are value-driven requirements that must be built into everything we do in our daily work in alignment with our strategic priorities. We cannot succeed with our three strategic priorities until we master and integrate our imperatives. That is how we must continually model our values through our innovation here. Those three imperatives that we must do, everyday, at all times, while embedding into our strategic work include the following:

Our Bilingual Mission
Our Commitment to Belonging and Equity
Our Belief in Innovation for Impact

What are the three priorities?

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What are the three priorities?

Our strategic daily work is driven by these 3 following imperatives:

Extraordinary Learning and Academic Excellence Across the Lifespan;

Knowledge Creation and Discovery;

Signing Ecosystems and Career Success.

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The priorities are our strategic daily work. The priorities and imperatives work together to transform the university. The three priorities are the following:

Extraordinary Learning and Academic Excellence Across the Lifespan
Knowledge Creation and Discovery
Signing Ecosystems and Career Success

How do we make The Gallaudet Promise a reality?

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How do we make The Gallaudet Promise a reality?

With the full participation of the Gallaudet community

contributing to work within a series of strategic plans.

The Phase One strategic plan is underway and continues through 2023.

This plan includes five areas:

Transformational Accelerators;

Antiracism;

Bilingual Mission;

Academic Reimagining; and

Creativity Way & Louise B. Miller Pathways and Gardens:

Legacy for Black Deaf Children.

[End Video Transcript]

With the full participation of the Gallaudet community contributing to work within a series of strategic plans. The Phase One strategic plan is underway and continues through 2023. This plan includes five areas:

Transformational Accelerators
Antiracism
Bilingual Mission
Academic Reimagining
Creativity Way & Louise B. Miller Pathways and Gardens: Legacy for Black Deaf Children

How was the Gallaudet Promise developed? Why is it important?

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How was the Gallaudet Promise developed?

Why is it important?

Endorsed by the Board of Trustees in 2019,

the Gallaudet Promise grew from the Gallaudet community.

Its goals, needs, and desires as well as the work

that happened during the most recent strategic plan.

The Gallaudet Promise is an important commitment to a path of transformation

that serves as a beacon

for the University communities’ values, work, and impact.

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Endorsed by the Board of Trustees in 2019, the Gallaudet Promise grew from the Gallaudet community – its goals, needs, and desires as well as the work that happened during the most recent strategic plan. The Gallaudet Promise is an important commitment to a path of transformation that serves as a beacon for the University communities’ values, work, and impact.

How do the Gallaudet Promise and Shared Community Values go together?

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How do the Gallaudet Promise and Shared Community Values go together?

The Gallaudet Promise, as our vision and the related work in the Phase One Strategic Plan

are set upon a foundation of our Shared Community Values.

The values composed through community dialogues and review,

reflect how we learn, work, engage,

and grow together everyday as a community.

[End Video Transcript]

The Gallaudet Promise, as our vision and the related work in the Phase One (strategic) Plan are set upon a foundation of our Shared Community Values. The values composed through community dialogues and review, reflect how we learn, work, engage, and grow together everyday as a community.

How does my work fit into The Gallaudet Promise?

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How does my work fit into the Gallaudet Promise?

The ultimate goal is that the work of every person

is linked to their department’s key initiatives,

while the department level is linked to their division priorities.

The divisions are then linked into the Gallaudet Promise

in a cyclical synergistic flow.

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The ultimate goal is that the work of every person is linked to their unit or department’s key initiatives while the department level is linked to their division priorities. The divisions are then linked into the Gallaudet Promise, in a cyclical synergistic flow.