2008 Woodie Awards
Webster University mission statement to receive makeover
By: Bryan Coplin
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
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Webster University is writing a new mission statement. The mission statement is one of three mission documents. The mission documents will be completed in 2008 shortly before the Higher Learning Commission's accreditation process begins.
The mission documents are the mission statement, the vision statement and the strategic plan. The strategic plan is for the next five years and will serve as a guide for much of the university's decision making.
The new mission statement is meant to retain the essence of the original statement while condensing it, said Bill Lynch, Faculty Senate president.
The original statement was adopted in September 1992, according to the university's self-study, available online at http://www.webster.edu/selfstudy.
The mission statement is also available in the university catalogs. The two versions differ slightly in the opening paragraphs.
"(The original mission statement) is a great essay about our university and its values," said Jim Staley, associate vice president for academic affairs.
The new mission statement will condense the original and include a listing of the university's core values.
The university is expanding its core values to include: "promotes international perspectives," "educates diverse populations" and "develops educational programs that join theory and practice," according to the self-study.
Mission statements are periodically rewritten to insure that the mission is parallel to ongoing programs, said Peter Sargent, dean of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts.
Sargent is a member of the mission and integrity committee, which is overseeing the mission documents.
A planning process was started in June to rewrite the mission statement and make it more concise, according to the self-study.
"The self-study is still very much a work in progress," said Sargent.
The vision statement and the strategic plan are also undergoing change. The current vision statement calls for enhancing institutional quality and strengthening operational excellence, according to the self-study.
The mission documents are the mission statement, the vision statement and the strategic plan. The strategic plan is for the next five years and will serve as a guide for much of the university's decision making.
The new mission statement is meant to retain the essence of the original statement while condensing it, said Bill Lynch, Faculty Senate president.
The original statement was adopted in September 1992, according to the university's self-study, available online at http://www.webster.edu/selfstudy.
The mission statement is also available in the university catalogs. The two versions differ slightly in the opening paragraphs.
"(The original mission statement) is a great essay about our university and its values," said Jim Staley, associate vice president for academic affairs.
The new mission statement will condense the original and include a listing of the university's core values.
The university is expanding its core values to include: "promotes international perspectives," "educates diverse populations" and "develops educational programs that join theory and practice," according to the self-study.
Mission statements are periodically rewritten to insure that the mission is parallel to ongoing programs, said Peter Sargent, dean of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts.
Sargent is a member of the mission and integrity committee, which is overseeing the mission documents.
A planning process was started in June to rewrite the mission statement and make it more concise, according to the self-study.
"The self-study is still very much a work in progress," said Sargent.
The vision statement and the strategic plan are also undergoing change. The current vision statement calls for enhancing institutional quality and strengthening operational excellence, according to the self-study.
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