Vision, Mission, and Values

Three people painting a wall with colorful paint

The Institute for Human Science and Culture is part of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology. Unlike the Cummings Center's other branches (the Archives of the History of American Psychology and the National Museum of Psychology), the Institute has distinct collections, exhibitions, and programming that do not necessarily relate to the history of psychology. Read more about the Archives and Museum here.

Vision

Hands-on humanities on the corner of campus and community.

Mission

The mission of the Institute is to explore our shared humanity by activating museum collections and fostering connection between The University of Akron and local communities.

Values

The mission of the Institue is achieved through a set of six core values:

  • Access
  • Collaboration
  • Education
  • Inclusion
  • Respect
  • Responsible Stewardship

The goals of the Institute are:

  • Offer innovative, experiential, and career-focused coursework in museums, archives, and public humanities for UA students.
  • Work purposefully with stakeholders towards ethical care for, interpretation of, and education around cultural heritage collections.
  • Preserve, provide access to, and interpret the Institute’s collections through exhibitions and public programming.
  • Provide meeting and gallery spaces for students, faculty, staff, and the community to connect and create.