EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
MISSION
AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
I.2
ETSU opened its doors in 1911 initially to prepare teachers for the
region’s public schools and has evolved into a state-supported, comprehensive,
regional university in the State University and Community College System of
Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The University
embraces its regional setting and proudly reflects its traditional roots through
programs and activities that highlight its Appalachian heritage.
Although the majority of students are from Northeast Tennessee and
adjacent states, many qualified students from throughout Tennessee and from
other states and countries also enroll. The
University acts on the belief that educational opportunities should be available
to all eligible people without regard to age, sex, race, religion, national
origin, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
ETSU affirms the fundamental values of higher education: protecting free
interchange of ideas through academic freedom, promoting curiosity and desire
for learning, stimulating thought and self-reflection, and encouraging ethical
behavior. The University expects
its faculty, with support from administration and staff, to place primary
emphasis on student learning through a strong commitment to effective and
innovative teaching. It also places
a distinctive focus on improving student competency in writing, oral
communication, and using information technology.
The University pursues partnerships and collaboration as a means of
enhancing its institutional effectiveness.
It places special emphasis on community based and interdisciplinary
education, on service learning with rigorous student expectations for
reflection, on expanding opportunities for students intellectual and social
development through co-curricular opportunities and academic programs meeting
high standards of quality, and on a respect for cultural diversity and
programming that enhances global awareness.
The University also provides
opportunities for community outreach, public service, and lifelong learning of
both a professional and personal nature through its various units.
It assumes a leadership role in providing facilities and programs that
improve the intellectual, cultural, political, social, and health environment of
Northeast Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region. In addition, ETSU
reflects its commitment to quality through a number of specialized centers,
bureaus, and Chairs of Excellence.
ETSU
offers programs through nine schools and colleges related to five areas: arts
and sciences, business, education, health sciences and services, and technology.
The University is recognized by the state for its unique mission focus in
the area of health sciences and places special emphasis on addressing the needs
of Southern Appalachia in areas of rural health care.
ETSU’s Division of Health Sciences, composed of the colleges of
Medicine, Nursing, and Public and Allied Health, serves the state, region, and
nation as a comprehensive academic health sciences center.
ETSU’s undergraduate programs embrace the philosophy of liberal
education for all, with special programs leading to a primary level of expertise
in the arts and sciences and in selected professional fields.
These programs also address needs of students not fully prepared for
college-level work, nontraditional students returning to the classroom, and
gifted students seeking more challenging educational activities.
The University is also committed to providing a rich campus life,
expanded residential opportunities, and a viable athletic program.
ETSU offers a broad array of graduate programs that provide advanced
specialized preparation in many areas to meet the needs of its student
population and facilitate the development of its extensive service region.
Those programs include broad masters’ level programming in most liberal
arts disciplines as well as technical and professional programs in fields that
respond to regional and other clearly defined needs.
They include doctoral programs in education and in biomedical sciences
and programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree.
The University is expanding the availability and enhancing the quality of
off-campus programming in viable markets as well as programming offered through
distance learning technologies that include the Internet. The University
provides programs that expand the region’s access to emerging technologies.
ETSU is expanding undergraduate, masters, graduate certificate, and
doctoral programs that support its mission focus on health, wellness, and
addressing the needs of rural populations.
Research and scholarship are essential components of the University’s
mission. The University
supports quality research and scholarly activities in all areas of its academic
programs and community service activities.
These programs enhance the contributions of East Tennessee State
University’s partnerships and collaborations. ETSU’s faculty is responsible
for developing and maintaining programs of scholarly activity appropriate to
their disciplines. The University
seeks to reward practicing researchers and scholars who are current and active
in their disciplines and who incorporate the products of their research and
scholarship in teaching, professional publications or exhibits or performances,
and in professional services to business, education, government, the arts
community (revised 11/08/99).
East
Tennessee State University will emphasize its mission-distinctive focus through
the following goals:
1. Expand and enrich student learning with
a)
A commitment to a student centered environment
b)
Demonstrated quality undergraduate and graduate programs
c)
A strong General Education core
d)
A commitment to providing students opportunities for appropriate careers
through advising, counseling, and planning
e)
Internship/Co-Ops opportunities
f)
A focus on health professions education and services
g)
Community based programs
h)
Interdisciplinary offerings
2.
Conduct faculty and student research, scholarship, and creative
activities that
a)
Strengthen the learning environment
b)
Enhance the region
c)
Advance human knowledge
3.
Serve and partner with our constituents to
a)
Enhance teaching, learning, and research
b)
Improve the quality of life and economic well being of the region
c)
Strengthen the community and university
4.
Demonstrate a commitment to cultural diversity through
a)
Expanded programs and activities
b)
Enhanced campus environment