Distinctly UCLA

Based on campuswide feedback over two years from thousands of Bruins via surveys, focus groups, Campus Community Conversations, Steering Committee deliberations and Academic Senate engagement, UCLA has unveiled the final, refreshed values for a new era:

Integrity

Lead with character.

• We communicate with honesty and transparency
• We make ethical decisions grounded in evidence and a commitment to truth
• We engage with openness and humility, especially when it is most difficult
• We take responsibility for our actions and their impact, individually and collectively

Excellence

Strive for greatness.

• We set the highest standards in teaching, research, and service
• We ask questions and challenge assumptions in pursuit of knowledge
• We collaborate to elevate quality and impact
• We direct our efforts toward the public good in Los Angeles, in California and beyond

Belonging

Build community.

• We treat each other with mutual respect across differences
• We create inclusive environments for learning and collaboration through our daily actions
• We address bias or harm with accountability, care, and a commitment to repair
• We build bridges across differences in identity, role, and viewpoint

The new set of values reflects who we are today and who we aspire to be. Our statement of values is only as strong as the collective voices and action behind them. Stay tuned for new opportunities for engagement with these values and with fellow Bruins in fall 2026 all across campus.

Values in Action

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“I see many people at UCLA who truly care about doing the right thing and helping others. In my department, team members often go beyond their regular duties to solve problems, support colleagues, and make sure campus systems run smoothly. That shows real service and teamwork. If we continue improving openness and collaboration, the workplace will feel even more supportive and connected.”

UCLA Staff Member

“We have excellent, hard-working, open-minded students.”

UCLA Faculty Member 

“One thing that should never change about the culture at UCLA is that people are generally very friendly and willing to collaborate.”

UCLA Student

“ UCLA is bold, with a focus on innovation and caring for each other and the community. This is a space where people can be themselves and feel safe and respected for being who they are. ”

UCLA Staff Member

“The desire held by seemingly everyone on this campus — staff, faculty students — is to make an impact.”

UCLA Staff Member

A few examples of how we’ll bring our final True Bruin Values to life at UCLA:

• Ahead of a meeting or class discussion, name a value that will guide the discussion.
• Recognize a colleague or classmate with a ‘value card’ for being a True Bruin.
• Use the values in performance reviews, hiring rubrics, decision-making frameworks and student leadership training.
• Choose a value a day to bring out in your interactions with colleagues or classmates.