Our work is anchored in our vision of “a world where skill and effort, not money or connections, determine who gets ahead.” The pursuit of educational access and equity – especially in underserved urban and rural communities – is enshrined in our vision, mission, and the daily work of our team. This is who we are. 

 

We prioritize representation. In all its forms, representation adds value, perspective, and other substantive benefits to a learning cohort and work environment. In our collaborative efforts with partner universities and employers, we aspire to achieve representation of the communities they serve. Our strategy is centered on infusing candidates with the belief that they, no matter their identity, truly belong in higher education and high quality work environments. We support program designs and practices that ensure wide open access to all qualified candidates with the expectation that without cumbersome effort over time, this approach will align the demographics of the community with the student population. 

 

We value diversity. Organizations seeking to achieve excellence assemble a “dream team” of different, complementary human beings who together are more powerful and insightful than any singular identity. This belief informs NCAD’s embrace of representation and belonging in all the spaces we occupy.  Diverse perspectives are not just valuable; they are crucial for innovation and success. McKinsey & Company's research highlights that companies excelling in ethnic and cultural diversity in management are 33% more likely to achieve industry-leading profitability. Apprenticeship Degrees offer a pathway for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter and thrive in the modern workplace. By supporting their nationwide growth we’ll build a more inclusive and high-performing workforce. 

 

We believe values that are truly held cannot be contained in a statement, policy, slogan, or acronym. The pursuit of representation and belonging should not be contained to words. Furthermore, compelling an institution or individual to make a statement expected to contain certain words saps those words of meaning. Instead, NCAD seeks to act every day to address the epidemic of underrepresentation in higher education and in many segments of our workforce. We infuse a sense of belonging for all constituencies engaged with our organization, ensuring structures and practices are in place that uplift employees, our partners, and the communities we serve in authentic discussion, decision-making, and learning.