Core Themes
As an accredited university, Bastyr engages in on-going self-assessment of its programs, student success, faculty, staff, physical capacity, long-term planning and resources. That process involves the development of core themes and goals that are used to characterize the University’s priorities and provide the framework for continuous improvement.
As stated in its 2013 Year One Report to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the University’s core themes and goals are:
Core Theme One: Academic Achievement
- Goal A - Bastyr University offers a rigorous and relevant curriculum.
- Goal B - Bastyr University has a highly qualified faculty with excellent teaching skills.
- Goal C - Bastyr University supports student success and program completion.
Core Theme 2: Research in the Natural Health Arts and Sciences
- Goal A - Bastyr University Research Institute will formalize a comprehensive strategic plan that articulates its growth plan over the next decade.
- Goal B - Faculty are encouraged and supported to pursue research/scholarly activity and disseminate findings.
- Goal C - Students are encouraged to participate in research training/scholarly activity.
Core Theme 3: Clinical Training and Community Health
- Goal A - All clinical programs provide clinical training that prepares competent entry-level health professionals.
- Goal B - All clinical programs provide high-quality services to the community.
Core Theme 4: Interdisciplinary Integration
- Goal A - Support the fundamentals of the institution-wide interdisciplinary integration by strengthening faculty training, infrastructure and policies in support of Core Theme Four.
- Goal B - Students gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes to work collaboratively with a variety of health professionals to improve the health of patients and the human community.
These four core themes align with the Bastyr University mission statement: “We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature, and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically inseparable, we model an integrated approach to education, research and clinical service .” Education, research and clinical services constitute the foundation upon which Bastyr University stands, and the interdisciplinary integration of these three primary areas of focus describes the approach the University uses to achieve mission fulfillment.