Vision & Standards of Excellence
Wake Forest University’s Shared Vision and Values
Our shared vision of Wake Forest as a catalyst for good in society builds on a deep-seated, shared belief that our University community is distinct in embodying its motto. Pro Humanitate illuminates our purpose, animates our values, and calls our community to seek a meaningful role in the world. Pro Humanitate is central to our future. Our unique value proposition provides the compelling “why” of Wake Forest:
Wake Foresters will embody Pro Humanitate at home and in the world.
“Framing our Future” Wake Forest University Strategic Framework
Learn more at framework.wfu.edu
F&A’s Vision and Standards of Excellence
Finance and Administration is a team of teams, committed to the highest standards of operational excellence. We build trust and strong relationships starting at our own table. We achieve this by leading with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to collaboration across Wake Forest.
The following Standards of Excellence guide our work:
Strategic Alignment
We are committed to aligning our planning and execution with the overarching mission, vision, and strategic goals of the University.
Stewardship of Resources
We are committed to incorporating a holistic long-term valuation of our resources in the prudent stewardship of the University’s environmental, human, financial, and material resources.
Capability and Capacity
We are committed to developing the capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the organization, enduring through disruption, and preparing to advance the university’s mission by increasing our organizational capacity and readiness for change.
People
We are committed to recruiting and retaining top talent by creating a supportive environment where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute their best by prioritizing alignment with our standards of excellence, employee engagement, and professional growth.
Service
We are committed to enhancing efficiency and building trust by centering the needs of our stakeholders in the development and delivery of prompt, accurate, and helpful solutions.
Transparency
We are committed to building trust, credibility, and accountability by providing clarity in our processes, communications, and decision-making.
Leveraging Technology
We are committed to enhancing efficiency, streamlining operations, and improving service delivery by enabling data-driven insights through technological integrations.
Data Driven Decisions
We are committed to optimizing performance by effectively collecting, interpreting, and applying relevant data to inform our choices and strategies.
Culture of Assessment
We are committed to fostering accountability, identifying areas for enhancement, and continuously improving our operations by consistently evaluating our performance and outcomes.
Continuous Improvement
We are committed to maximizing efficiency and effectiveness by continuously improving our processes, programs, and services.
Core Purpose by Department
Facilities, Real Estate, & Planning
Core Purpose: Provide an accessible, accommodating, healthy, inclusive, safe, supportive, and welcoming campus for the diverse Wake Forest community.
We do this by…
- Prioritizing the needs of our stakeholders and address them promptly and openly.
- Partnering across F&A in collaborating with our stakeholders to anticipate their needs and prepare for their future requirements.
- Cultivating a campus environment that attracts and retains top talent, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic campus community.
- Developing and maintaining a robust campus infrastructure that supports our academic mission and minimizes disruptions.
- Recognizing and appreciating the dedication of our staff, providing them with opportunities for skill development and advancement, thereby ensuring their success and enhancing the quality of service to our stakeholders.
- Upholding the highest ethical standards, and ensuring responsible stewardship, and embodying the ideals of our motto, Pro Humanitate, in how we serve the University.
Finance
Core Purpose: Empower Wake Foresters to maximize the impact of the University’s resources with exceptional innovation, stewardship, and integrity.
We do this by…
- Fostering transparency, financial integrity, and clear communication in all financial matters.
- Supporting leadership in achieving financial goals by providing strategic guidance and data-driven analytics.
- Delivering high value and efficient services aligned with stakeholder needs through collaborative partnerships.
- Facilitating resource allocation through effective short and long-term financial planning, support of budget formulation, and championing school and departmental financial strategies.
- Ensuring policies and procedures are accessible, clear, and guide efficiency and compliance in financial operations.
- Leveraging innovative technologies to enhance financial processes and support an environment of continuous improvement.
- Protecting and enhancing financial resources through effective and prudent cash management, borrowing, and investment of the University’s working capital.
- Protecting the University community and its resources by identifying and managing risk on campus.
Hospitality & Auxiliary Services
Core Purpose: Transform the campus experience by providing exceptional services and hospitality that support a vibrant community of students, faculty, staff, and guests.
We do this by…
- Developing staff to exemplify a spirit to serve others.
- Providing quality offerings that build price value.
- Focusing on community engagement and experiential satisfaction.
- Reviewing services and offerings to define areas for continuous improvement.
- Honoring the staff that deliver these services.
Human Resources
Core Purpose: Make Wake Forest a great place to work.
We do this by…
- Creating fair, consistent, transparent, and compliant policies, programs, and procedures for all phases of the employee lifecycle.
- Limiting risk to the institution and employees through adherence to evolving laws and regulations.
- Increasing knowledge, skills, and ability of employees, managers, and leaders to appropriately apply the university’s human resources policies, programs, and procedures.
- Empowering leaders to create a culture of engagement and belonging through training, development, events, recognition, and celebration.
Information Systems
Core Purpose: Empower the Wake Forest community in the use of information and digital technologies.
We do this by…
- Customer Service: Providing leading technology solutions and exemplary support services to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
- Partnership and Collaboration: Collaborating with academic and administrative units to deliver cost-effective and comprehensive IT solutions and services, aligning with the university’s mission and strategic goals.
- Innovation: Fostering a culture of creativity, exploration, and collaboration, leveraging technology as a catalyst for innovation and continuous improvement.
- Data-Enabled Decision Making: Empowering the university community with robust data infrastructure for informed, data-enabled insights and analytics.
- Cybersecurity: Implementing robust security measures to safeguard the university’s information assets and technology infrastructure.
- Accessibility: Promoting inclusivity by providing technology solutions that are accessible.
- Governance: Establishing a clear framework for IT governance, ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective technology decision-making.
Strategy & Transformation
Core Purpose: Drive transformative initiatives, operational excellence, and innovation in Finance and Administration to achieve strategic goals and differentiate our approach in higher education.
We do this by…
- Developing and executing a Business Transformation Strategy, tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities at Wake Forest, to create and enhance the capabilities and capacity of Finance and Administration needed to achieve its strategic goals.
- Creating a framework for implementation that ensures agile and adaptability approaches to project management, change management, and performance management, enabling the successful implementation of key initiatives.
- Championing operational excellence through streamlined processes, continuous improvement, technology utilization, employee empowerment, and a focus on customer satisfaction.
- Aligning operational, financial, and quality metrics to achieve project targets and deliver value to stakeholders.
Sustainability
Core Purpose: Empower leadership for the sustainability transformation.
We do this by…
- Developing guiding principles, facilitating strategic planning, and assessing sustainability success through relevant frameworks.
- Supporting faculty of all ranks and from all disciplines in the integration of disciplinary-focused sustainability content into teaching and learning.
- Elevating campus discourse, learning, and action by focusing efforts on the areas of highest impact according to scientific expertise.
- Engaging and empowering faculty, staff, and students to develop critical thinking, humility, compassion, curiosity, and courage.
- Uplifting and celebrating the efforts of students, faculty, and staff who lead the sustainability transformation on campus and in the world.