Theme: Institutional Commitments

After reading the description below, add “comments” that identify specific activities at the college that indicate we demonstrate institutional commitment expectations. Post a separate “comment” for each activity identified.

The standards ask institutions to make a commitment in action to providing high quality education congruent with institutional mission. The first expression of this is in Standard I, which calls for an institutional mission statement that reflects the intended student population and the institution’s commitment to student learning.

Throughout the standards, the commission asks that institutions insure the consistency between mission and institution goals and plans and insure that the mission is more that a statement of intention — that it guides institutional action.

The standards also ask that an institution commit to supporting student learning as its primary mission. The number of references to student learning outcomes throughout the standards are designed to guide this institutional commitment to student learning.

The standards’ requirement that the entire institution participate in reviewing institutional performance and developing plans for improvement of student learning outcomes is intended to help the institution sustain its commitment to student learning.

Finally, the requirement that an institution regularly review its mission statement asks that the institution periodically reflect on its mission statement, adapt it as needed, and renew commitment to achieving the mission.

Summary points of this theme:

The institution demonstrates its commitment to

• High quality education congruent with mission
• Student learning as the primary mission
• Mission being more than statement of intention; it guides institutional action
• Entire institution participating in reviewing performance and developing improvement plans
• Regularly review and reflect on mission, adapt as needed, and renew commitments