Before the process of assessment can begin, the mission and goals of the institution must be understood by all stakeholders involved. If the objective of the process is to continuously evaluate and improve the student experience, it is critical that the work is informed by high-level values, principles, and plans.
Program Mission Statement
In general, a university or college’s mission statement should explain why the institution exists and what it hopes to achieve. Along with a vision statement, the mission plays a pivotal role in articulating the overarching purpose and values of the organization. VTSU’s mission and vision clearly focus on an accessible, career-focused education. Additionally, VTSU has named community values that include a strong commitment to DEI and social justice.
In addition to the institutional mission, it is recommended that a program-level mission statement, which aligns with the university mission statement, be developed as it can be advantageous as a tool for long-term planning and a guiding document for academic program reviews.
Elements included in a typical mission statement are:
- Statement of Purpose
- Summary of Essential Work
- Stakeholders
When drafting a program-level mission statement, it can be helpful to seek student and alum feedback, to ensure that the expression of values and purpose resonates with students.
Program Learning Goals
Once the program mission has been developed, the next step is to write the program learning goals that align with the mission. While the mission speaks to the general purpose of the program, the learning goals are more specific and articulate what graduates of the program should gain while enrolled. Examples include skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values.
As opposed to student learning outcomes, which are discussed in step two of this guide, program learning goals are not intended to be measurable. They are written as broad statements that include the following three components:
- The people doing the learning (e.g., students).
- A description of the nature of the learning (e.g., understand).
- The learning to be achieved.
An example of a learning goal is:
“Students will understand the major theoretical approaches within the discipline.”
Recommendation: When developing a program mission statement and program learning goals for the first time, research the statements and goals used by similar programs at other colleges and universities, particularly peer institutions (e.g., regional, public universities). This research will be helpful in crafting the goals from which the student learning outcomes will be drawn.