Search
Southern Home PageAbout Southern Connecticut State UniversityAcademicsAdmissionsStudent LifeResearchAthleticsHuman Resources at Southern
photo bar
Southern Connecticut State University LibraryMySCSUSouthern DirectoryCalendar of EventsTechnologyContact Us

Standard 1: Mission and Purposes

 

Description

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), a comprehensive public institution of higher education, is part of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) and, as such, is governed by the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the CSUS. Other campuses of CSUS are Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. However, as described in more detail in Standard 3, the Connecticut General Assembly recently passed a bill that reorganized public higher education. This reorganization, which went into effect on July 1, 2011, will significantly alter the structure of CSUS. The current system structure will remain in place until December 31, 2010 to facilitate the transition.

The most recent mission statement of the university was developed by a representative group of all university stakeholders as part of an 18-month strategic planning process completed in 2007. Overarching goals and strategic initiatives for the period 2007-2012 were identified at that time and serve to guide the university planning and decision-making. The System Office and Board of Trustees reviewed the mission in 2008. Although there was no formal approval at that time, the process for developing an institution mission and purposes was monitored and reviewed by the BOT in conjunction with its governance role and responsibility.

SCSU's mission is as follows:

Southern Connecticut State University provides exemplary graduate and
undergraduate education in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. As an
intentionally diverse and comprehensive university, Southern is committed to
academic excellence, access, social justice, and service for the public good.
As a student-centered institution, Southern regards student success as its highest
priority. We seek to instill in all of our students the value of the liberal arts and
sciences as a foundation for professional development and life-long learning. Our
students receive exemplary professional training and are inspired by the research, scholarship, and creative activity of our teacher-scholars. Through tradition and innovation, Southern strives to empower every undergraduate and graduate student with the knowledge, skills and perspectives essential for active participation and impassioned, ethical leadership in our rapidly changing global society. Within the Connecticut State University System, Southern leads the way in graduate education and produces the largest number of graduates in Health/Life Sciences, Education; and Social/Public Services.

At the same time, the Board of Trustees was presented with and reviewed 11 overarching goals and strategic initiatives that seek to build on the strengths of the university and engage the community in making significant contributions to the intellectual, artistic, cultural and economic growth and vitality of the region.

The 11 Overarching Goals and Strategic Initiatives are:

  • Strengthen undergraduate and graduate academic programs
  • Integrate community engagement, campus activities, and student services into the academic life of students
  • Foster an institutional climate of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and creative activity
  • Become a regional leader in the use of technology to support student learning
  • Develop an effective plan for student success
  • Foster a campus climate that respects and celebrates diversity
  • Increase funding from external sources to support the university's mission
  • Develop an effective information management system to inform decision-making in all areas of the university
  • Strengthen organizational structures and operations to improve institutional effectiveness and communication
  • Ensure a campus that is environmentally responsible, safe, attractive, and conducive to learning and high levels of productivity
  • Prepare students and faculty for life and work in a global society

 

Appraisal

The university's mission statement is prominently displayed in major campus buildings (e.g., Engleman Hall, student center, library), administrative offices, and classrooms. It is shared through university publications and communications in both hard copy and electronic media. The mission is published on the university's Website and is printed in official publications of the university including the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. During the strategic planning process in 2007, draft versions of the statement were shared in a variety of settings and gatherings, including an online forum and town hall meetings at which comments and input from stakeholders were solicited for purposes of fine-tuning the document. The University Strategic Plan (USP) in final form was presented to the university community prior to its formal presentation to the community at large. The mission of SCSU addresses the institution's comprehensive program offerings, student demographics, and presence in the New Haven community. It is the basis for setting the institution's priorities and activities.

In preparation for this self-study, focus groups were held with a variety of campus groups, including faculty, staff, and students. One of the topics for discussion was the understanding of the university's mission. These institutional conversations indicated that faculty and administrators are conversant with the concepts and values of the mission and use the statement in setting yearly goals and priorities, although some admitted not knowing the specific wording. The academic program review procedures require that departments address the alignment of each program with the university's mission, and the academic departmental annual reports address the activities of the department from the previous year in light of the mission statement. Non-academic units annually assesses the function of each unit against the mission statement using a standard budget development process. The university's spending plans are set using guiding principles created from the mission statement. All major expenditures and strategic initiatives identified in the annual budget process are linked to the USP.

While most students did not know the university's mission statement, most knew that it could be found on the Website and in the catalog. Students who hold leadership positions were most likely to be conversant with the concepts and values of the mission. The Student Government Association sets annual goals based on both the SCSU mission and the SGA mission. First-year students are first introduced to the mission at New Student Orientation and encounter the statement again in the First-Year seminar, INQ 101.

Projection

It is evident from the student and faculty surveys that the institution needs to better publicize the university's mission statement to all members of the community. As the institution moves forward, wider publication of the mission statement, as well as communication of the use of the mission statement in decision-making, will occur.

Institutional Effectiveness

The institution periodically reviews and affirms the mission statement of the institution. In fall 2010, the Board of Trustees (BOT) requested that all four institutions in CSUS review their respective mission statements and provide a summary of the statements along with institutional highlights illustrating the distinctive programs that address the mission statement. In September 2010, the BOT approved the existing mission statement along with the following additions, which describe SCSU's distinctiveness within the CSUS:

SCSU Vision
Southern Connecticut State University is Connecticut's public, urban university offering timely and socially responsive graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels. At the baccalaureate level, the University provides transformative educational opportunities through its model First Year Experience and a diversity of excellent programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professions.

Over the next five years, Southern will

  • Enhance its reputation as the leader in graduate and professional programs in the CSUS;
  • Strengthen its reputation for excellence in science and mathematics;
  • Expand educational and community partnerships for professional advancement and the public good; and
  • Achieve national recognition in the study of special education and autism spectrum disorders.