The mission and objectives of the AAAI are listed as follows:
- To serve as a liaison among campus and community organizations in addressing issues that relate to Asians and Asian Americans regionally, nationally, and internationally;
- To function as a resource center to engage in and promote research and scholarship on Asian and Asian American culture, history, languages, arts, economics, politics, and society.
- Disseminate information on local, regional, national, and international programs of special interests to the University, and the community.
- To provide curricular leadership, skills, interviewing techniques, and self-promotional strategies to enhance visibility and ensure success of Asians and Asian Americans in business, education, public policy, and the communities at large;
- To establish community and corporate partnerships to develop and promote Asian and Asian American activities, programs, research, and scholarships for students, faculty, and other constituencies at Cal State LA and beyond.
- Collaborate with APA centers and entities at USC (Asian Pacific American Student Services), CSULB and CSUN (Asian Studies Programs), and UCLA (Asian American Resource Center) to promote Asian and Asian American research, programs activities, and endowments.
AAAI places community engagement at the core of the Institute's mission, very much in alignment with the strategic plans of the university. To this end, AAAI will continue to engage with campus community and local Asian and Asian American communities to promote research and scholarships on the history and cultures of Asia and Asian America regionally, nationally, and internationally, provide curricular training and leadership skills among faculty, staff, students and community members, and expand community and corporate partnerships for the success of Asians and Asian Americans in business, education, and public policy.