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Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Board of Trustees

System Procedures
Chapter 3 - Educational Policies
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Procedure 3.24.1 System and Institutional Missions

for Board Policy 3.24

Part 1. Definitions.

Mission: A mission statement answers the following questions: Who is to be served? What are our outcomes? and Why do we exist?

Vision: A vision statement answers the following questions: What will the ideal future look like for the institution? What will be the primary products or services and which ones are particularly new? What is likely to be different about the institution and its environment five years from now? What is distinctive or unique about the institution? and How will the enterprise operate?

Part 2: Review and Approval of MnSCU System Mission and Vision
Upon request of the Chancellor, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs shall prepare a plan to review and, as appropriate, revise the system mission and vision. The Board of Trustees shall approve the plan. After review with faculty, students, employers and other essential stakeholders, the Chancellor shall submit the proposed mission and vision to the Board of Trustees for their approval.

Part 3: Review and Approval of MnSCU Institutional Missions
An institution shall submit to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs an analysis of its mission, vision, purposes and, as appropriate, values and philosophy. The institution's analysis must indicate:

  1. How its mission and vision respond to the definitions above.
  2. The extent to which the institution will meet expectations of law, how it relates to other institutions of higher education, and how its mission, vision and purposes support fulfillment of the system mission and vision.
  3. Its purposes and the array of awards it offers.
  4. Ample consultation with faculty, students, employers and other essential stakeholders.

An institution may request a review of its mission at any time. An institution that seeks to fundamentally change its mission and purposes shall submit evidence to indicate its preparedness to accomplish such a change.

System office staff shall prepare an analysis of an institution's mission and support materials and prepare a report for the Board of Trustees. Such an analysis shall follow a standard format and a consistent degree of elaboration. Additionally, the analysis shall indicate if the institution's mission is compliant with statute, policy, and regional accreditation requirements.

Part 4: Alignment Between MnSCU Institutional Missions And Higher Education Needs in Minnesota
Upon request of the Chancellor, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs shall study the nature and scope of MnSCU's role in meeting state higher education needs and MnSCU's compliance with legislative intent. The Chancellor shall report the results of this study to the Board of Trustees after consultation with faculty, students, employers and other essential stakeholders.

Approval Date: 06/16/1999,
Effective Date: 06/16/1999,
Date & Subject of Revisions:


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