EK Defining Mission and Vision
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Jan 9, 2024
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Uploaded by kruegerelk94
After reading through numerous mission and vision statements from various universities,
there are two universities that resonated with me. One of the universities that I found compelling
was from the University of Phoenix. The other university’s mission and vision statements that
sparked my interest was from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, or UWM. Below the
mission and vision statements are listed below for reference:
University of Phoenix
“University of Phoenix provides access to higher education opportunities that enable
students to develop knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their professional goals,
improve the productivity of their organizations and provide leadership and service to
their communities” (
Mission and Purpose,
n.d.). The other university’s mission and vision
statements that sparked my interest was from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, or UWM.
Their mission statement stated,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Mission
“The mission of this system is to develop human resources, to discover and disseminate
knowledge, to extend knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses,
and to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural,
and humane sensitivities; scientific, professional, and technological expertise; and a sense of
purpose. Inherent in this mission are methods of instruction, research, extended education, and
public service designed to educate people and improve the human condition. Basic to every
purpose of the system is the search for truth,” (
UWM’s Vision, Values, and Mission Statements
,
n.d.).
Vision
“We will be a top-tier research university that is the best place to learn and work for students,
faculty and staff, and that is a leading driver for sustainable prosperity,” (
UWM’s Vision, Values,
and Mission Statements
, n.d.).
Defining Mission and Vision
Mission and vision statements can be closely related, but have different intentions within
a university. A mission statement’s intent is to inform others of a common purpose, what matters
currently, and what the common goal that everyone is trying to accomplish. It is more of the here
and now, or purpose, of the university. In comparison, a vision statement informs others of
where an organization is heading, wants to be, or the futuristic goal of the university (Young,
2019). I believe that it is a great practice for higher education institutes to have both, because it
is important to know what the current goals are, as well as, the future goals of a university.
When attending higher education, students should be aware of the current state of the
university, and where the university is heading in terms of their goals.
Although the University of Phoenix has integrated their mission and vision statements
into one motto, it is a great message that I found to be compelling. In terms of higher education
student affairs, I think this statement sums up exactly what student affairs professionals are
trying to do. This field is centered around providing students with guidance and insight into their
future careers, assisting individuals with reaching their educational goals, and providing
leadership opportunities to promote community engagement. These are all vital pieces of higher
education student affairs and are mentioned in the mission and vision of the university. On the
other hand, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s (UWM) mission statement gives a deeper
look into higher education student affairs. As a system, their whole mission is to have students
find purpose in life and contribute to society, and their vision is to provide the best place for
students to learn and become prosperous. This is a huge aspect of student affairs. As student
affairs professionals, we help and encourage students to find their purpose in life. We help them
in their career paths, studies, and educational journeys to ensure that they can be self-sufficient
members of society.
When comparing the mission and vision statements that I selected, there are some
similarities and differences between them. The first thing that I noticed was similar between
them was how the mission statements were both very student-centered to promote student
success. Both universities capture the idea that they are working to ensure students achieve
their own personal goals, while gaining knowledge and insight on how to be a functioning
member of society, providing for the community. Both universities’ missions are to have students
extend what they have learned in the classroom and apply it beyond school. In contrast, one big
difference between the two universities was that the University of Phoenix only has one
statement for both the mission and vision of the school, whereas UWM has a clear mission
statement and clear vision statement. I also noticed that UWM is a lot more specific in regard to
how they are providing students with opportunities to stimulate the community and organizations
they are a part of. Where the University of Phoenix is more concise and to the point, UWM gives
a better sense of what their university can provide to students. For example, in their mission
statement there is mention of different methods of instruction in which they provide their
students, where the University of Phoenix gives an overview of their goals for the university.
I think that both higher education institutions could enhance their mission and vision
statements. I do like the conciseness of the mission statement of the University of Phoenix;
however, I think more could be said regarding how they are going to get students to achieve this
goal. I love that the mission stated that the university would provide their students with
educational opportunities, but describing what those opportunities would look like would give a
better insight to what the university has to offer. I also think that if the University of Phoenix
could have a clear-cut vision statement, it would help students realize the futuristic goals of the
university as well. In regards to UWM’s mission statement, I feel that it is very descriptive, but
almost too descriptive. I think that the mission statement is overwhelming with their word choice
and what the university is trying to accomplish. I think that if the statement was broken down a
little more, it would be beneficial because students would be able to understand it better. With
UWM’s vision statement, I love how it is matter-of-fact, but giving the “how” aspect within the
statement would help. If there was a description of how UWM would become a top-tier
university it would help guide the university.
If I were to write my ideal mission and vision statements for a student affairs department,
I would use the statements I have listed below:
Mission Statement:
Commit to student development as a whole, provide resources and programs to give students
the opportunities to reach their educational and professional goals, while assisting students to
become independent, dependable contributors in their future professional careers and
organizations.
Vision Statement:
Aim for providing student-centered programs, while growing and supporting a diverse population
of students within a sought-out campus of choice. Provide student affairs and professional
development opportunities in alignment with student and staff needs.
Both my mission and vision statements would affect the responsibilities and functions of
a student affairs department on any higher education campus, because they are directly related
to student needs. Student affairs professionals would need to be knowledgeable in student
development and what opportunities the university can provide for students to reach their goals.
I think with any student affairs department, being student-centered is key to success. Student
affairs professionals in higher education campuses must do what is best for students, provide
resources for students, and be a lending hand in the process of obtaining their goals and future
professions.
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References
Mission and Purpose
. (n.d.). University of Phoenix.
https://www.phoenix.edu/about/mission-
purpose.html#:~:text=University%20of%20Phoenix%20provides%20access
UWM’s Vision, Values, and Mission Statements
. (n.d.). UW-Milwaukee. Retrieved September
19, 2023, from
https://uwm.edu/mission/#:~:text=Code%20of%20Conduct-
Young, B. (2019). Creating a Living Vision and Mission for Your Program.
Exchange
(19460406)
,
245
, 18–23.