Mission and Vision 145
Carnegie Mellon will be a leader among educational institutions by building on its
traditions of innovation, problem solving and interdisciplinary collaboration to
meet the changing needs of society (1998).
Sweet Briar College has determined that to claim its pre-eminence as a woman’s
college for the 21st century, the College’s faculty and staff will demonstrate that
intellectual and professional endeavors will permeate our students’ lives (2004).
Centre College aspires to be a national model of consequence for institutions of its
size and type—the very small coeducational liberal arts college (Morrill 1988).
Williams College take[s] it as our commitment to be the exemplary liberal arts col-
lege, nothing less (1997).
Pfeiffer University will be recognized as the model church-related institution pre-
paring servant leaders for lifelong learning (2001).
Rhodes College aspires to graduate students with a life-long passion for learning, a
compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal
concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and the world
(2003).
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a leading student-centered
university, linking the Piedmont Triad to the world through learning, discovery,
and service (1998).
The University of Richmond is embarking on a mission to create an institution
that is second to none, better than any and different from all... by transforming
bright minds into great achievers (2003b).
Juniata College [is] a learning community dedicated to provide the highest quality
education in the liberal arts and sciences and to empower our graduates to lead
fulfilling and useful lives in a global setting (2001).
Roanoke College intends to [be] one of this nation’s premier liberal arts colleges
(1993).
Virginia Commonwealth University (building on its position of leadership among
urban research universities) aspires to be an innovative leader among the nation’s
major research universities (1997).
Baylor University, within the course of a decade, intends to enter the top tier of
American universities while reaffirming and deepening its distinctive Christian
mission (2002).The Vision to Be the Best
As one analyzes these statements, a number of common patterns become evident.
One of these is the effort to seize on the language of superlatives, particularly the
phrase “the best.” The language may vary and include words and phrases such as
“the preeminent” or “the outstanding,” but the meaning is the same and refers to the
highest level of achievement. In a slight variation on the theme, vision statements
sometimes use the logic of equivalence by stating positively that the institution will be
“as good as any,” or negatively, by claiming that none will be any better. The necessary
implication, of course, is that there are other institutions that are just as good.