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Student Learning Assessment Resources

This slide show provides an overview of the components of a mission statement for an academic program. Review your program mission statement to see if it follows the guidelines presented here.

Mission Statement Overview

An academic program mission statement should include a description of the broad purposes the program is aiming to achieve, the general activities the program engages in related to these purposes, the community and stakeholders the program is designed to serve, and the values and principles that guide the program purposes and activities. The academic program mission statement should serve as a foundation for program goals and student learning outcomes. The academic program mission statement should distinguish the program from other units and should be consistent with the principles in both the college’s mission and the institutional mission (including vision, values, purposes, and goals). 

The academic program mission statement is distinct from the department mission statement in that it solely addresses student learning in the program and the associated teaching. For a department with multiple programs, each program mission statement should be unique and highlight the specific purpose, activities, stakeholders, values, and principles of that program.

Program mission statements are included in academic assessment documentation to engage departments in ongoing review of their program mission and to help reviewers see the alignment of academic program mission, program student learning outcomes, and course student learning outcomes.

 

Tips for Mission Statements

  • Program Mission Statements are usually developed collaboratively with all stakeholders in the program. If you think changes may be needed, be sure to work together with your department chair, faculty, and students to produce a meaningful mission for all involved.
  • Analyze your mission statement to extract key words and concepts that can be woven throughout your assessment document to clearly indicate how all aspects of assessment are aligned with the mission.
  • A useful structure to guide the development or revision of your mission statement is: The mission of <the name of your program> is to <your primary purpose(s)> by providing <your primary functions or activities> to <your stakeholders>. This mission aligns with the institutional mission through valuing <list items you value from institutional mission statement> and promoting <list items you promote from institutional mission statement>.

 

Examples

For examples of program mission statements from Georgia Southern University academic programs, please see the Academic Program Assessment Document Handbook.

Mission Statement Peer-review Criteria

At Georgia Southern, the Academic Assessment Steering Committee (AASC) reviews all academic program assessment documents on an annual basis. When reviewing mission statements, the committee uses the following rubric criteria to provide feedback to the program:

1 - Beginning 2 - Developing 3 - Acceptable 4 - Exemplary

Statement pertains only to the department and does not specifically address the academic program or does not clearly distinguish between the missions of the department and academic program.

 Statement is directly related to the academic program (not the department). Statement addresses the purpose, primary activities, and whom the program serves. Statement is aligned with the institutional mission. Statement is understandable to internal and external stakeholders (clear language). Statement identifies program goals and/or activities that impact specific elements of the institutional mission. Statement is aligned with the standards of an external professional organization, in applicable.

NOTE: This trait applies only to Academic Program assessment documents, not Core Course assessment documents.

Mission Statement Additional Resources