BOR Unanimous Approval of New ASU Mission Statement

Memorandum

To: ASU Faculty, Staff and Students
DSC Faculty, Staff and Students

From: Dr. Art Dunning, ASU President
Dr. Richard Carvajal, DSC President

Re: Board of Regents Unanimous Approval of New Albany State University Mission Statement

Date: March 9, 2016

Today, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia unanimously approved the
mission statement for the new Albany State University. The Consolidation Implementation
Committee (CIC) worked hard to ensure that the mission is inclusive, clear, and raised the
bar for the new institution. The mission statement is the first, and most important task to
complete, and it forms the basis for the new world-class university we will build together.

As you know, the process of crafting this new statement has been highly collaborative.
Utilizing a set of guiding principles created by the members of the CIC, an initial draft
mission statement was created and revised. This revised draft was distributed to leaders
from our two institution’s faculty, staff and student governance groups, senior leadership
teams, and University System staff. Utilizing their input, the mission statement was revised
yet again, before being sent to the Board for their final approval this morning.

The new mission statement (attached) describes a university that is committed to
excellence in teaching and learning. While honoring both institutions’ historical missions, it
also challenges us to meet the future needs of higher education in our region and beyond.

In the coming weeks, the CIC will finalize and adopt other foundational documents that will
further tell the story of our collective past and lay the groundwork for our new institution’s
future.

We look forward to working with all to build the new Albany State University!

New Mission Statement for Consolidated Institution, Albany State University Albany
State University, a proud member institution of the University System of Georgia, elevates
its community and region by offering a broad array of graduate, baccalaureate, associate,
and certificate programs at its main campuses in Albany as well as at strategically-placed
branch sites and online. Committed to excellence in teaching and learning, the University
prepares students to be effective contributors to a globally diverse society, where
knowledge and technology create opportunities for personal and professional success. ASU
respects and builds on the historical roots of its institutional predecessors with its
commitment to access and a strong liberal arts heritage that respects diversity in all its
forms and gives all students the foundation they need to succeed. Through creative
scholarship, research, and public service, the University’s faculty, staff, students, and
administrators form strategic alliances internally and externally to promote community
and economic development, resulting in an improved quality of life for the citizens of
southwest Georgia and beyond.