Mission Statement & Core Themes

Mission Statement
Approved by the Board of Regents in November 2011.

Montana State University, the State's land-grant institution, educates students, creates knowledge and art, and serves communities, by integrating learning, discovery, and engagement.

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Core Themes

1. Educate Students

• Our graduates will have achieved mastery in their major disciplines.
• Our graduates will become active citizens and leaders.
• Our graduates will have a multicultural and global perspective.
• Our graduates understand the ways that knowledge and art are created and applied in a variety of disciplines.
• Our graduates are prepared for careers in their fields.
• We will provide increased access to our educational programs.
• Communities and external stakeholders benefit from broadly defined educational partnerships with MSU.

2. Create Knowledge & Art

• Students, faculty, and staff will create knowledge and art that is communicated widely.

3. Serve Communities

Education as a Public Service

• We help meet a fundamental need of the citizens of Montana by providing degree programs for our students.
• We help meet the educational needs of the citizens of Montana by providing a wide range of educational opportunities to a variety of students.

Service by the MSU Community

• Our students, staff, faculty, and administrators reach out to engage and serve communities.

Service to the MSU Community

• Our students, staff, faculty, and administrators reach in to build the university community.

4. Integrate Learning, Discovery & Engagement

• Each graduate will have had experiences that integrate learning, discovery and engagement.
• Outreach activities will educate students and address the needs of the communities we serve.
• Students, faculty, and staff will create knowledge and art that addresses societal needs.
• MSU is a community that will be characterized by synergy within and across disciplines, roles and functions.

5. Stewardship

Stewardship of the public trust

• The public trusts the institution to operate openly and use resources wisely.

Stewardship of human resources

• The faculty and staff are well-qualified and supported.

Stewardship of our cultural heritage

• MSU will support Native American students, programs, and communities.
• MSU will be an inclusive community, supporting and encouraging diversity.

Stewardship of public resources

• Our publicly provided resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Stewardship of natural resources

• Natural resources are used efficiently and sustainably.
• MSU nurtures a culture of resource conservation and ecological literacy among students, faculty and staff.

Stewardship of physical resources

• Our physical infrastructure (e.g., buildings, equipment, open spaces) will be well-maintained and useful.

Core Themes - Full Document (pdf)

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