Policy and Procedure
Mission Statement Review Policy
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to define the procedure and responsibilities for
periodically reviewing and revising as needed the university’s mission statement.
POLICY/PROCEDURE
The "Criteria for Accreditation" of the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) provides that: "An institution must have a clearly defined purpose or mission statement appropriate to collegiate education as well as to its own specific educational role. This statement must describe the institution and its characteristics and address the components of the institution and its operations. The official posture and practice of the institution must be consistent with its purpose statement. Appropriate publications must accurately cite the current statement of purpose." (Section II.A.)
SACS "Criteria" further require that the statement "should be developed through the efforts of the institution’s faculty, administration and governing board. It must be approved by the governing board. An institution must study periodically its statement of purpose, considering internal changes as well as the changing responsibilities of the institution to its constituencies." (Section II. B.)
Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) policy requires that: "Each institution shall develop a concise statement of its core mission for approval by the Board. The core mission statement shall be based upon and consistent with the statement of institutional purpose and mission required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Board and System mission statements. The core mission statement shall set forth clearly and concisely the major emphasis, scope, and character of the institution’s instructional, research, and public service programs, and shall describe those characteristics and features that distinguish it from other institutions in the IHL system. Core mission statements shall be reviewed annually and may be modified with prior approval of the Board. The core mission statement of each institution shall be filed with the Commissioner." (Section 102.04, IHL Policies and Bylaws)
Mississippi State University’s mission statement as approved by the Board of Trustees shall be reviewed annually by the Executive Council, which will make a recommendation to the President that the statement remain unchanged pending the next scheduled review or that a broader review involving the campus community be undertaken if it appears advisable; however, a broad-based campus review of the mission statement shall be conducted at least every five years or upon the appointment of a new president of the university.
When a university-wide review of the mission statement is to be conducted, the president shall present the currently approved statement to the administration, faculty, staff, and students for review, along with any modifications he may suggest, and request comment and suggestions related to the existing statement and any proposed changes. The president may designate an ad hoc or standing committee of the university to assist in conducting the review of the existing mission statement, considering comments received from the campus community, and drafting a revised mission statement, if revision appears to be needed. The president, in consultation with representatives of the faculty, administration, staff, and students, may as a result of the review recommend to the Board of Trustees for approval a modified university mission statement.
REVIEW
This policy and procedure will be reviewed every four years within the
Office of the President
with recommendations for revision presented to the President.
OP 01.05
02/02/07
For information about this policy, contact the responsible/reviewing department hyperlinked above.
