The mission of the Department of Physics and Astronomy is to educate and train the next generation of physicists, perform cutting-edge and internationally-recognized research, and support the education of students in allied areas such as engineering, chemistry, atmospheric science, and the biological sciences. Our undergraduate program prepares physics majors for employment in industrial research or for further graduate school in physics or related fields, including astrophysics, space physics, optics, biophysics, engineering, or medicine. We further play a vital role in the education of other science and engineering students, and promote the understanding and appreciation of physics through our general study courses. Externally funded research is the foundation of our graduate program, which prepares our students for scientific challenges in private industry, government labs, or academia. We also encourage our undergraduate physics majors to participate in departmental research endeavors. Finally, we promote the advancement of science through publications, public outreach, and other activities within our profession.