Standard One: Mission Statement

 

Committee Members:

Faculty Joan Del Gaudio, Co-Chair

Classified Rita Sabbadini, Co-Chair Janet Hancock

Administrator Barbara Christensen

Student Connie Luehrs

The institution has a statement of mission that defines the institution, its educational purposes, its students, and its place in the higher education community.

1. The institution has a statement of mission, adopted by the governing board, which identifies the broad-based educational purposes it seeks to achieve.

Descriptive Summary
Cañada College adheres to the mission of the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD), as adopted by the Board of Trustees and published annually in the Canada College Catalog (Ref. #1). Included in the Mission Statement are the broad-based educational goals that are incorporated in Cañada College's mission statement. This mission statement, in turn, provides the parameters for the development of college goals and priorities, which in turn inform the planning process, which drives budgetary decisions at the college and division level. The goals of Cañada College, derived from the District Mission Statement, demonstrate a commitment to provide collegiate and pre-collegiate courses, technical and vocational training, and a breadth of extra curricular activities in order to develop a well-rounded and educated individual.

Self Evaluation
The college's Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Values statement together describe how the College will accomplish its mission. These documents state that Cañada College will promote standards of excellence so that students from diverse backgrounds may have the opportunity to develop an educational plan, pursue their educational goals, and seek life-long learning enrichment. This commitment to excellence shall be achieved by creating an environment in which students have access to personalized, flexible, and innovative instruction in

• Transfer and general education courses,
• · Professional/technical programs,
• · Basic skills programs, and
• · Activities that foster personal development and academic success.
• In addition, the college will infuse essential skills and competencies

throughout the curriculum and will assess student learning so as to measure the institution's effectiveness.

The college's mission statement has further shaped college programs by guiding and informing staff in the identification, preparations, and implementation of local state and federally funded grants to help the college respond to the changing needs of its increasingly diverse population. For example, the HSI, HSEP, and Packard grants were all written in response to the mission's direction to better embrace a diverse population.

Planning Agenda
None.

2. The mission statement defines the students the institution intends to serve as well as the parameters under which programs can be offered and resources allocated.

Descriptive Summary
The current mission statement, revised and approved by the College Council in Spring 1999, contains within its wording the statement that we will serve students from diverse backgrounds, offering programs with goals of career preparation, transfer, development of college-level skills, and lifelong learning.

Self Evaluation
The present mission statement is broad based enough to provide open access to a changing and diverse student population. The mission statement further defines that the programs are to be offered through personalized, flexible, and innovative instruction. By being involved and responsive to the community, Cañada develops new programs and partnerships by incorporating new technologies and methodologies, as appropriate, into its programs and services.

In consultation with the budget and planning committee and the College Council, resources are reviewed and discussed according to the Master Plan for the District (Ref. #2) and the changing goals of the College. (Ref. #3) Upon review of the Mission Statement for the district, which was Board approved and revised in January 1999, the Cañada Mission Statement was developed to reflect the district and college in a continuously changing development. The district resource allocation model provides resources based on student enrollment from previous years.

Planning Agenda
None

3. Institutional planning and decision making are guided by the college's mission statement.

Descriptive Summary
Beginning in 1995-96, the Cañada College Mission Statement has guided the institution as it began its transformation from a traditional college offering classes in the standard semester format and administering itself in the traditional structure of instruction and student services to a more flexible, integrated, and streamlined college.

Self Evaluation
Faculty and staff, through the College Council, Academic Senate Governing Council, Classified Senate, and Administrative Council participated in the challenging task of re-inventing Cañada and revising its mission and direction (Ref. #4, 5, 6). Using a 1996 needs assessment, the college added new faculty members in chemistry, math, multimedia, office technology, speech, English, and child development (Ref #7). The addition of a new fitness center, child development center, and multimedia and networking labs, as well as expansion of the Cañada College Education and Technology Downtown Center, have also strengthened the college and reflect its mission by serving the community's varying needs. With the addition of more on-line classes, a new Middle College for high school students, and better planning of evening, weekend, and off-campus classes, the College has promoted more flexible and innovative instruction, thereby fulfilling another area of the college's mission statement (Ref. #8, 9, 10).

Planning Agenda
None

4. The institution evaluates and revises its mission statement on a regular basis.

Descriptive Summary
Cañada College evaluates, and if necessary, revises its mission statement on a regular basis.

Self Evaluation
In Spring 1998 and again in Spring 1999, Cañada's mission statement was revised significantly. (Ref. # 11,12). The annual goals and objectives of the college, (Ref. #2) which are also developed collaboratively by members of the College Council, Administrative Council, Academic Senate, and Classified Senate, directly reflect the college's mission statement, as well as the mission for the San Mateo County Community College District, shape college planning, and inform budgetary decision making.

Planning Agenda
None

Supporting Documents

1. Mission Statement, Cañada College Catalog, 2000 - 2001

2. Educational/Facilities Master Plan, San Mateo County Community College District

3. 2000-2001 Budget Report to the College Council, May 4, 2000

4. Letter to Campus Community from President Marie E. Rosenwasser, regarding administrative reorganization and transformation of the college, October 4, 1995

5. Program for Strengthening Cañada Community Connections and Marketing, October, 4, 1995, reviewed and endorsed by Administrative and College Councils

6. Re-Inventing Cañada College, Goals, Assessments, Strategies for Securing Cañada's Future, developed by administrators, faculty, and staff in fall 1995, approved by Administrative and College Councils, December, 1995

7. Community Needs Assessment, Cañada College, San Mateo County Community College District, August, 1996, The Resource Group

8. Directions, Connections, Accomplishments, report to San Mateo County Community College District, Board of Trustees, April 24, 1996

9. Report on Enrollment Analysis and Planning at Cañada College, report to San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees, February 11, 1998

10. Enrollment Plans for 1998-99 and 99-00, prepared by Enrollment Management Committee of Cañada College

11. Mission, Vision, Values Statement, adopted May, 1998

12. Mission Statement, Cañada College, adopted Spring 1999

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