Academic & Student Affairs Handbook

Academics Affairs Division

1.5 Institutional Function and Mission

(Last Modified October 16, 2020)   Report a broken link

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BOR POLICY 2.8 ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ“ INSTITUTIONAL MISSION

Per Board of Regents Policy 2.8 on Institutional Mission, the mission and function of all ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ institutions is determined by the Board of Regents, and any change in institutional function or mission must be approved by the Board. The following guidelines should be used to request changes in institutional mission and/or function:

Type I Mission Change: Requests for Approval of Revised Mission Statement Only:
Through routine strategic planning processes at an institution as required by SACSCOCÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s Comprehensive Standards, mission statements are periodically revised to reflect relatively minor changes in the language of an institutional mission, or changes in institutional priorities which do not affect the scope of the mission as approved by the Board. This type of change in mission is typically a change in the wording of the mission statement only and does not reflect a change in the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s designated function or the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s functional sector (per BOR Policy 2.8). Revised mission statements of this type must be approved by the Board and requests for revisions in institutional mission statements should be submitted to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer. The request should include the following:

  • The President of the institution should submit a justification for the revision, including an explanation of the processes used to engage various campus constituencies in discussions of the revised mission;
  • The current Board-approved mission statement for the institution, including the date of Board approval;
  • The proposed revised mission statement.

Type II Mission Change: Requests for Approval of Revised Mission Statement and Institutional Function Sector:
This type of mission and function change requires Board approval and requests must be submitted to the Chancellor for consideration. An institution seeking to modify its mission statement and function with the intent of changing functional sector or sub-categories of a specific sector, should submit the following materials to the Chancellor:

  • Current functional sector and sub-category if applicable
  • Proposed functional sector or new sub-category, including the name of any proposed new degree program offerings associated with the change (NOTE: Requests for Function Sector Change must be approved prior to submitting new program proposals and/or facilities requests associated with the change).
  • Substantive evidence and rationale related to the following:
    • The results of a regional needs assessment, to include:
      • The geographic span of service area for the institution;
      • An assessment of employer and workforce needs within the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s service area;
      • An analysis of the adequacy of current ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ degree providers relative to workforce needs in the area with a goal of avoiding unnecessary duplication of programs;
      • An assessment of how the proposed new program offerings will fill gaps in workforce needs
      • Impact of the change on the social, economic, cultural problems and enhancement of the quality of life of citizens in the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s service area
    • Analysis of institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s readiness for mission change, including:
      • EFT enrollment trends over past 5 years
      • Employment trends for graduates over past 5 years
      • Retention, progression, and graduation (RPG) over past 5 years
      • Impact of the mission/function change on the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s College Completion Plan and college access in the institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s service area
      • Analysis of the effectiveness of academic degree program review and use of results to modify and eliminate programs
    • Five year plan for fiscal resources available or new resources required to meet new mission, including:
      • Personnel/faculty needs
      • Facilities needs
      • Technology needs
      • Impact on institutionÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s debt ratio
    • Documentation of the involvement of local constituents and educational, civic, and political groups in the formulation of the change request
    • Impact of mission/function change on student tuition and affordability
    • Impact of mission/function change on faculty qualifications
    • Time line for SACSCOC approval
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