2.4  

 The institution has a clearly defined and published mission statement specific to the institution and appropriate to an institution of higher education, addressing teaching and learning and, where applicable, research and public service. (Institutional Mission)

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State Technical Community College (NSCC) has a clearly defined mission statement [1] that is appropriate for an institution of higher learning.  Nashville State is a public, state-supported, comprehensive community college in the State University and Community College System [3] of Tennessee which is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). Minutes of the December 3, 2004 TBR Board meeting [2] reflect the action taken to approve campus mission statements.  

The mission is reviewed every five years in accordance with the TBR's Strategic Planning cycle [4]. A "Statement of Institutional Involvement" [6] is submitted with the proposed mission statement, which shows how input from the college is obtained in formulating the mission statement. The Assessment and Planning Council [5] at NSCC is charged with leading the campus-wide discussion on revisions to the mission. The Council receives comments and suggestions from various constituencies and presents its recommended changes to the President. The President and Executive Committee review the draft revision and then forward the revised statement to the TBR for its approval [6].  The Executive Committee includes representatives from administrative/professional, faculty, and support employee groups.

Nashville State's mission statement is published in the the introductory pages of its  catalog, published on the college's website [1], and the current mission statement also appears on the TBR website. The mission of Nashville State is as follows:

The mission of Nashville State Technical Community College is to provide comprehensive educational programs and partnerships, exemplary services, an accessible, progressive learning environment, and responsible leadership to improve the quality of life for the community it serves.