EAST
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
VISION
STATEMENT, VALUES, MISSION, STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
To become the
University of Choice in the region and the best regional university in the
nation.
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Educate students to become responsible, enlightened, and productive
citizens;
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Conduct scholarship that improves the human condition;
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Serve business, education, government, health care systems, and
community; and
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Enhance the cultural environment of the region.
ETSU pursues
its mission through a student-centered community of learning reflecting high
standards and promoting a balance of liberal arts and professional preparation,
continuous improvement, and based on core values where:
PEOPLE
come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve
their full potential;
RELATIONSHIPS
are built on honesty, integrity, and trust;
DIVERSITY
of
people and thought is respected;
EXCELLENCE
is achieved through teamwork, leadership, creativity, and a strong work ethic;
EFFICIENCY
is achieved through wise use of human and financial resources; and
COMMITMENT
to intellectual achievement is embraced
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.
It also places a distinctive focus on improving student competency in
writing, oral communication, and using information technology.
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. The
University promotes efficient and effective services to support the
University’s instructional, research and public service programs.
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 and health care systems (revised 10/31/01).
ETSU
STRATEGIC GOALS FOR THE 2000-2005 PLANNING CYCLE
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
5. Enhance efficient and effective use of resources