Mission

Mission Statement

The mission of the College at Oneonta is to foster the individual student's intellectual, personal, and civic development. The College is dedicated to excellence in teaching, advisement, and scholarly activities, and the cultivation of a campus environment rich in opportunities for participation, personal challenge, and service.

THE COLLEGE IN A NEW CENTURY

During the course of the next decade, the College at Oneonta will be identified, state-wide and regionally, as

* a college of first choice for individuals who are intellectually talented or motivated to perform well academically, and committed, with the strong support of the campus community, to completing their programs of study;

* a college offering high-quality academic programs, many of which explore the spaces between traditional disciplines and are designed to develop the individual student to his or her full potential, and which have as their hallmarks superior teaching, an effective balance of liberal arts study and career preparation, and research of all forms with particular emphasis on student involvement;

* a college with a safe, caring environment, enhanced by the beauty of its natural surroundings, that supports and encourages its diverse learning community and provides leadership in volunteer and community service; and

* a college recognized for its effective and responsible use of all its resources, including advanced technology, in order to provide the most extensive opportunities for students' academic and personal development.

 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS AND RESOURCES

The characteristics and resources of our institution through which we accomplish our mission and vision are as follows:

Students

The College attracts students interested in both academic excellence and personal growth and development. To nurture the development of intellectual skills, leadership, social commitment, and sensitivity to other cultures, the College provides students with challenging academic programs, a strong student leadership program, experiential learning opportunities, and well-organized residential life, athletic, and extracurricular programs.

Personnel

As teachers and scholars, the faculty of the College is dedicated to excellence in teaching and to guiding the growth of the individual student's intellect and character. Through sound academic advisement, committed and responsive support services, many forums for student-faculty interaction and research, and experiential learning opportunities including internships and community service, the staff of the College helps to provide the means and the guidance for each student to become a successful, productive member of society.

Programs

With both traditional and innovative programs, the College strives to provide a high-quality liberal arts education throughout its curriculum while maintaining a balance of liberal arts and professional studies programs. Strong academic support systems, a superior library, expanding technology applications, and extensive service opportunities provide the resources for the student to discover and pursue individual interests. Our programs seek to increase students' skills in critical and creative thinking, in writing and speaking, in making moral and ethical decisions, and in contributing to our multicultural society.

Our residence life program complements the academic program and provides opportunities for social, cultural, inter-personal, and emotional growth. Participation in student government, varsity and intramural athletics, the fine and performing arts, and a wide range of other extracurricular activities provides students the opportunity to cultivate leadership, responsibility, and self-worth.

Mission Statement adopted May 1990, revised April 1998