Cosumnes River College Refreshing our Vision, Mission & Values Students, Faculty, Staff & Administration March 28, 2008

Mission, Vision and Values Providing a Context Kathy McLain, Dean College Planning and Research

Role of a Mission Statement Spring Break Experience –Helped organize and lead a 4 day bike trip for 25 high school kids from Fort Bragg to Napa Mission Statement –The mission of the bike trip is to have all the high school students and adult leaders ride from Fort Bragg to Napa. Is this a good mission statement? Why or why not?

Role of a Mission Statement (cont.) Two more complete mission statements: The mission of the bike trip is to have high school students… –bicycle from Fort Bragg to Napa in four days to enhance and assess their readiness for an upcoming cross-country bike race. –learn about teamwork, persistence, goal setting, and endurance as they bicycle from Fort Bragg to Napa over a four day period.

Role of a Mission Statement (cont.) A good Mission statement expresses the broad purposes of the organization/task in a way that… –provides context –provides a way to assess success –identifies the intended audience –identifies the intended outcomes –informs planning and decision-making

Role of a Vision Statement The work of leading the bike trip is difficult and at times overwhelming and discouraging. The mission, combined with a commitment to students, does keep adults returning year after year. The vision of the trip, however, is what really inspires their ongoing participation and enthusiasm.

Role of a Vision Statement (cont.) Vision statement: The bike trip is a challenging and profound experience that changes students’ lives and provides them with critical life skills. This vision expresses what we want the bike trip to be in the future as it continues to evolve and improve. This vision is what really inspires the motivation and commitment of the leaders and informs the changes that are made each year.

Role of a Values Statement The values of the sponsoring organization impact the bike trip in a variety of ways including… –the experiences we integrate into the bike trip (activities, etc.) –how we relate to the kids and to each other –decisions we make –our choice of riding partners and style –how we resolve problems

Summary of Roles The Mission, Vision and Values statement should: –Identify: The context of our work The intended outcomes of our work What we aspire to be The value of our work The principles that guide our work –Inform planning, decision-making and assessment of success –Express and perpetuate the culture of the institution

Important Note The Mission, Vision and Values statements should not be formed in isolation. They should be written in response to the charter of the organization and the needs of those served. What do we know about our community and students?

Key Attributes of our Community Economic Base –Commuter population –Predominantly small businesses –Many service businesses –Several large employers have or are leaving the region –Strong sectors: health care, government –Previously strong sectors: construction, services Now challenged due to the downturn in construction

Key Attributes of our Community Changing demographics –Growth Significant over the past 5 years Will continue, although at a slower pace K-12 enrollments are beginning to decline in E.G and in Sacramento –Increased diversity Ethnicity/race Language Socioeconomic level Radically different communities served by the college

Student Population Demographic Shifts –Increased number of students under 25 –Decreased number of students over 30 –Increased number of Asian and Latino students –Decreased number of White students –Disproportionate growth by geography and ethnicity Increased differences across the student population: –Preparation levels –Expectation levels –Goals –Academic Performance –Life experiences –Cultural norms

Key Success Measures Strengths –Persistence (CRC Research Office Website) –Relatively Strong Basic Skills Outcomes (ARCC Report) –Excellent ESL outcomes ( ARCC Report) –Student perception (Student Perception Survey) Campus climate (cultural congruity) Academic ability (self-confidence) Supportiveness of college employees

Key Success Measures Growth Areas (CRC and LRCCD Research Office Websites) –Student success measures stable but relatively low –Performance gaps Age Ethnicity Educational goal Instructional mode –Students in general lack connection with individuals at the college ( Student Perception Survey)

Cosumnes River College Refreshing our Vision, Mission & Values Students, Faculty, Staff & Administration March 28, 2008

Goals for Today Revisit and refresh the vision, mission and values statement Collect information to inform college goals in areas of access growth student success teaching and learning effectiveness organizational effectiveness and community economic development Create a shared sense of collective future as leaders Build community across constituencies

` What is most important to CRC? What do you believe? Values Where do we want to be as a college in 20 years How do we want to be remembered when people talk about us? What culture do we strive to support? Vision What is our purpose What do we do best that reflects our commitment to student learning? Who do we serve and what needs are we addressing? Mission

Framing the Issues 4 Goals of Summit To revisit, derive consensus and refresh the Campus Vision, Mission and Values Statement To collect information that will inform the development of key college goals in the areas of: access and growth, student success, teaching and learning effectiveness, organizational effectiveness and community and economic development. To create a shared sense of our collective future as leaders of various campus constituencies To build community across constituencies Honoring & Building upon Prior Work Draft Vision, Mission, Values statement from Planning Committee Existing CRC Vision and Mission statement Student Learning Outcome District and College Strategic Plans Cultural Competence Student Equity Existing plans (outreach, matriculation, vtea, etc.) Accreditation Standards & Rec’s The institution demonstrates strong commitment to a mission that emphasizes achievement of student learning and to communicating the mission internally and externally. The institution uses analyses of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis in an ongoing and systematic cycle of evaluation, integrated planning, implementation, and re-evaluation to verify and improve the effectiveness by which the mission was accomplished.

Thank You. Let’s Get Started!