University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO - Assurance Argument - 10/9/2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO - Assurance Argument - 10/9/2018 Assurance Argument University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO 10/9/2018 Page 1 University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO - Assurance Argument - 10/9/2018 1 - Mission The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations. 1.A - Core Component 1.A The institution’s mission is broadly understood within the institution and guides its operations. 1. The mission statement is developed through a process suited to the nature and culture of the institution and is adopted by the governing board. 2. The institution’s academic programs, student support services, and enrollment profile are consistent with its stated mission. 3. The institution’s planning and budgeting priorities align with and support the mission. (This sub-component may be addressed by reference to the response to Criterion 5.C.1.) Argument 1.A.1 "As the metropolitan, land-grant, research institution serving the most diverse and economically important region in Missouri, the University of Missouri–St. Louis delivers exceptional educational, research, and engagement experiences that inform, prepare, challenge, and inspire. We transform lives." This mission is broadly understood and guides operational decisions. Along with the strategic plan, the vision and mission were rearticulated as part of a systemwide planning process in 2018. All components of UMSL's strategic plan were developed through an inclusive process that involved faculty, staff, students, community leaders, and the Curators of the University of Missouri System. As an urban, public, land-grant institution dedicated to the betterment of the metropolitan area, transforming lives is well-suited to the nature and culture of UMSL. The university strives to be "a beacon of hope, a force for good, and a leader in the pursuit of excellence in education, impactful research, and community service." We assert that "education is for everyone who is willing and able to seek it out," and we honor our land-grant heritage by "positioning ourselves as partners in the search for knowledge, progress, and positive change for ourselves, our communities, and our world." The core values framing the mission and vision of UMSL are trust, inclusion, innovation, access, success, and engagement. Trust is at the heart of our mission, and we strive to establish trust at every moment through goodwill, transparency, accountability, and positive, measurable results. We seek to create an inclusive community in which equity is a reality, individual differences are respected, and true synergies are realized. We believe that we are all innovators, driving change for the greater good. We believe that a learning environment free from barriers for any one individual is a benefit to all. We are committed to meeting our students wherever they are, inspiring and empowering them to achieve their goals, break barriers, and define and achieve success as they see it. We believe it is our duty and responsibility to reach out with open minds, invite others into conversations, and create solutions. We use our energy, wisdom, and resources to forge partnerships, across campus and within our community, that are built in the spirit of collaboration. The development of UMSL's current mission and vision statements began in the fall of 2017, when Page 2 University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO - Assurance Argument - 10/9/2018 UM System President Mun Choi charged each of the four campuses of the system to rearticulate its institutional mission and vision through a strategic planning exercise in alignment with the Missouri Compacts for Excellence in the 21st Century. In response, UMSL formed planning committees to interpret our institutional mission in relation to each of the five compacts. Students, faculty, staff, and administrators were represented on each of the compact committees. Compact committees created the initial drafts that were vetted by the campus through open forums. Through an iterative process that included more than a dozen forums on campus as well as anonymous feedback through the website, the presentation of UMSL's mission and vision evolved. In December 2017, a campus review and comment period was invoked after the initial draft was released. The feedback was used to revise the second draft that was released in March 2018. This was again followed by a period of review and comment by the campus that included two open forums in April. Following the timeline, UMSL also received input and feedback from UM System committees. The board of curators approved the final draft of our strategic plan on September 20, 2018. 1.A.2 UMSL’s mission is to “deliver exceptional educational, research and engagement experiences that inform, prepare, challenge and inspire” and in doing so to transform lives. The university strives to do so by delivering academic programs and student support services that align with the institutional enrollment profile, are reflective of the needs of a diverse population and are consistent with this mission. The University Bulletin contains detailed information about academic degree programs and certificates that reflect the diversity of departments on campus and provide important access opportunities to students in professional degree programs such as nursing, education, business, social work, engineering, and optometry. The quality of the university's academic programs are evidenced by accrediting bodies such as CAEP (formerly NCATE), AACSB, and ABET. The students at UMSL are largely nontraditional, with many first-generation, transfer, and returning students with personal and professional responsibilities. To meet the needs of these students, academic programming is delivered using a range of platforms, including day and evening classes, online courses, and hybrids, in both traditional and accelerated formats. In addition, the university offers relevant and impactful co-curricular opportunities, which complement its academic programming and fulfill the transformative mission. UMSL provides a number of support services to meet the spectrum of student needs. The Welcome Center assists the general population with questions about the campus and the Millennium Student Center. The Admissions Office and Transfer Services provide information about admission requirements and processes to the general population, while the UMSL NOW (Nights, Online, and Weekends) office focuses on serving the unique needs of nontraditional and returning students. Students may also receive specialized support through Disability Access Services, the Veterans Center, and similar programs. Student Enrichment and Achievement and the Office of Multicultural Student Services in the Student Academic Support Services office support enrolled students through workshops, coaching, mentoring, and related activities. Academic advising centers are located throughout campus and within colleges (e.g., Marcus Allen Advising Center (Arts & Sciences), OASIS (Education), Office of Student Services (Nursing), and the College of Business Administration). Academic support is also provided through the Math Academic Center, Writing Center, and the Science and Technology Academic Center (STAC). Health Wellness and Counseling Services provides health services, mental health intervention and nonacademic support to students in managing life balance on and off campus. Student Social Services (SSS) also provides public and crisis assistance, housing counseling, case management, and Page 3 University of Missouri-Saint Louis - MO - Assurance Argument - 10/9/2018 advocacy. Students Who Are Parents (SWAP) fosters support networks through services available on our campus and in the surrounding community. The Triton Hunger Relief Fund and Food Assistance address food insecurity while Partners in Prevention reduces high-risk behaviors and promotes safe practices. The Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life supports the development of women leaders, and the Office of Student Involvement supports Emerging Leaders, Chancellor's Engaged Leadership Certificate, and Leadership Diversity & New Member Institute. These services help UMSL fulfill its mission and the needs of its students. In summary, the services that UMSL provides to students is reflective of the mission of transforming the lives of the students who enroll at the university (2017-2018 common data set). The student population of UMSL (17,014) is diverse and inclusive, with 59 percent identifying as female and 31 percent reporting an ethnicity other than "white, non-Hispanic." Most of the students are classified as part-time (62 percent) and the majority are undergraduates (82 percent). However, the university serves a sizable population of full-time (38 percent) and graduate (18 percent) students. UMSL also serves a small but growing number of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students. 1.A.3. The exigencies of the current fiscal climate mean that prioritization of expenditures must be made carefully and intentionally in the context of the mission and informed by financial conditions. In academic year 2017-18, an Academic Program Prioritization committee was formed to make recommendations regarding current and future investments in academic programs based on common metrics. The recommendations led to strategic investments and tactical divestments. The recent 2018 budget proposal, "Investing in Sustainable Excellence," demonstrates that planning and budgeting priorities are consistent with and support the university