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2.4 Institutional Mission

The institution has a clearly defined, comprehensive, and published mission statement that is specific to the institution and appropriate for higher education.  The mission addresses teaching and learning and, where applicable, research and public service.

Judgement of Compliance:

Compliance

Narrative:

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has as its Vision Statement the following:

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will be recognized as a premiere metropolitan university, known for its outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs, scholarly and creative achievements, diversity and inclusiveness, and critical partnerships that take advantage of our setting to provide solutions to global concerns.

As a means to accomplishing this vision, the University operates under the following

Mission Statement:

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an engaged, metropolitan university committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of the region through strategic partnerships and community involvement.

This clearly defined, comprehensive Mission Statement was adopted in 2008 along with the newly developed UTC Strategic Plan 2008-2013.  The revised Mission Statement and Strategic Plan originated out of extensive deliberations that included UTC faculty, staff members, and students.  A detailed account of this process may be found in the introduction to the Strategic Plan. Implementation of the Strategic Plan is facilitated by a committee structure that includes representatives from all facets of the University community.

UTC is one of five campuses comprising the University of Tennessee, and the UTC Mission Statement is distinctive to this campus.  UTC uniquely defines itself as "an engaged, metropolitan university" and emphasizes "strategic partnerships and community involvement."   When one compares the UTC Mission Statement to those of our sister institutions (UT Knoxville, UT Martin, UT Health Science Center, and the UT Space Institute), one easily sees that our Mission Statement is specific and appropriate to our campus. 

The University works diligently to communicate our Mission Statement to our constituents. The primary location to view the Mission Statement is the UTC home page, “About UTC.” It is also published in the Undergraduate Catalog, the Graduate Catalog, and Strategic Plan web pages (see below).

Our Mission Statement, as implemented through the UTC Strategic Plan 2008-2013, has a direct impact upon teaching, learning, research, and public service. Evidence of this intentional relationship can be found in the organization of the Strategic Plan into four Initiatives: 

Initiative 1  Partnerships for Students: Teaching and Learning, 
Initiative 2  Partnerships for Education and Research, 
Initiative 3  Partnerships for Diversity, and
Initiative 4  Enabling Partnerships. 

The appropriateness of the mission statement is proven through the number of programs accredited by higher education accreditation bodies and in the working articulation agreements in place with other institutions of higher education. All programs for which accreditation is available are currently accredited. In addition, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission approves all academic programs. Articulation [Ref: A & B] and dual admission agreements are in place with other institutions in the state.

Documentation:

  1. Institutional Vision and Mission Statement
    http://www.utc.edu/About/Mission.php

  2. Strategic Plan
    http://www.utc.edu/Administration/StrategicPlan/documents/UTCStrategicPlan.pdf

  3. Committee Structure
    http://www.utc.edu/Administration/StrategicPlan/PlanningActionCommittees.php

  4. UT System Member Mission Statements
    http://www.tennessee.edu/system/academicaffairs/missionstatements.html

  5. UTC home page, "About UTC"
    http://www.utc.edu/About/

  6. 2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog, Mission Statement
    http://www.utc.edu/Administration/Records/UndergraduateCatalog0910/004_0910UGCatalog.php

  7. Graduate Catalog , Pg. 3, Mission Statement

  8. Plan web pages
    http://www.utc.edu/Administration/StrategicPlan/VisionMissionValues.php
    http://www.utc.edu/Administration/StrategicPlan/

  9. Accredited Programs
    http://www.utc.edu/About/Accreditation.php

  10. Articulation Agreements
    a. Cleveland State Community College - General Education
    b. Chattanooga State Community College - Engineering

  11. Dual Admission agreement with Cleveland State Community College

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09/10/10 04:17:38 PM (EDT)