Opening Day Feedback - Meetings and Minutes - Mission Initiative Committee

Results of Opening Day Feedback

Mission Statement Evaluation

Prefer #1 with suggestions. Contributing citizens and productive members of a regional workforce.
Rewording to emphasize action "CCRI serves…" shorter so it can be easily quoted and remembered. Suggested mission "CCRI provides accessible and affordable quality education opportunities".
Delete "contributing members of the state’s workforce". Add after "and" "productive members of society".
Rework #1 if needed to include some of #2. Much of the descriptive language in #2 can be included as part of a vision statement. Keep mission statement short and concise. Delete "cultural". Leave diversity. Begin with: "is a campus of learners that provides, etc." add word "community".
#1and #2 lack passion. Missing why we do what we do. Would like to get the idea of a "peoples college" in the mission (inspired by Judge Caprio’s comments).
Add all in 2nd line of #1 after "assist" before "individuals".
# 1 should be more reflective of the vision elements. Should not include just the "state's" workforce as our audience is broader. # 2 need to add lifelong learning in as continuing education is more finite. "promotes continuing education and lifelong learning"
Please not statement #1 could be shortened. Stop after "opportunity" or even after "serve educational needs."
Omit post – secondary. Add respectful.
Great Job!
#1 - two people at our table like this one. #2 - three people voted for this one.
Change post–secondary to college. Add: economic development of RI. Reasoning: most people do not understand what post-secondary means. State RI because it has more impact with the governor, general assembly and community at large
The mission is to stress student success, promote continuing education, develop informed citizens, cultivate community service, embrace cultural diversity, contribute to economic development and encourage the pursuit of excellence as an accessible, excellent and affordable college.
Statement #1 make the following change: "to assist individuals" becomes "to enable individuals" and "contributing members of the state’s workforce" becomes "contributing members of the community".
Quality education, include embrace cultural diversity.
#2 changes: encourages student success and stresses the pursuit of excellence. Change the underlined words.
Try to break it into two shorter sentences.
Replace "citizens" in #1 with "informed citizens". # 2 too many things.
Too long and wordy.
#1 Remove state.
Statement #1- change "state’s workforce" to "community" (too limiting.) Both statements- delete "affordable" - accessible covers it. Statement #1: add "assist any individual" to become successful students. Statement #2 change "stresses" student success to "promotes" student success.
#1 - 1 person agrees, #2 7 people agree, #3 1 person agrees.
We would include "proactive" before the word "citizens". Otherwise, we love mission statement #1.
Cultural diversity needs to stay but we need to include other forms of diversity as well (not by listing.)
#1 - We want it simplified!! Remove "workforce". We suggest this rewrite. "CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible affordable post-secondary education to assist individuals to become successful students."
#2 Instead of "pursuit of excellence" substitute "intellectual achievements". Substitute "lifelong learning" for "promotes continuing education". Comment on #1 don’t like "state’s workforce" in wording.
Change "contributing members of the state’s workforce" to "contributing members of society"
Statement # 2: Please place the phrase "pursuit of excellence" earlier in the statement. **"The mission of CCRI is to provide educational excellence through accessible and affordable post-secondary education that meets student needs to complete a degree, transfer credits, and graduate from a program for employment success."
We recommend a blending of the two statements: "CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible, affordable educational opportunities that stress student success, promote continuing education, develop informed citizens, cultivate community service, embrace cultural diversity, contribute to economic development and encourage the pursuit of excellence.
Revise #1 to read: CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible affordable educational opportunities that encourage excellence and assist individuals to become successful students, citizens and contributing members in a culturally diverse society.
Try: CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible affordable educational opportunities that stress student success, promotes continuing education, develops informed citizens, cultivates community involvement, embraces cultural diversity, contributes to economic development and encourages the pursuit of excellence.
CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible, affordable post-secondary educational opportunities to assist any individual to become a successful student, proactive citizen and productive member of society.
CCRI’s mission is to provide accessible, affordable post-secondary educational opportunities to assist all individuals to become successful students, informed citizens and productive members Rhode Island’s workforce.
CCRI serves the educational needs of individuals by providing an accessible and affordable post-secondary opportunity that encourages student success, promotes continuing education and lifelong learning, develops informed citizens, cultivates community involvement, embraces diversity and contributes to the economic development of the region.
CCRI serves the educational needs of individuals through its high quality, accessible and affordable offerings and programs.

Vision Statement Evaluation

This is way too long. We dislike the phrase "culturally tolerant" instead use "culturally expansive." Rewrite: That puts learning, service, intellectual curiosity and achievement at its core; that transforms lives and creates opportunity for individual success; that encourages a cooperative, collaborative and culturally expansive learning/working environment; that works in partnership...STET; recognized as a model of best practices for community colleges.
Order of wording - This vibrant ...learning, achievement and service. Of hope and opportunity ...to achieve their own... change to assisting individuals to succeed. Educational and personal (in that order and delete community.) Question should academic goals be used instead of educational goals then you could use different categories to be used as goals. Educational goals is too broad a term.
Make the phrases more parallel in construction: that puts learning at its core, that explores new and varied, that offers hope and opportunity. Drop some of the extra words - opportunity in the community (why broader). Can you say: culturally "sensitive" or "diverse" instead of tolerant? Change the last phrase to focus on the students - "that produces the best students in the region" or something like that. Focus more on students.
Some redundancy in statements, not short in bullets 3, 4, 5. Do not like last statement: recognized as a premier community college.
4th Bullet. Remove "culturally tolerant". It suggests that we are "tolerating - putting up with" rather than appreciating. The terms "cultural" is too value laden. Perhaps replace with "...working together in a welcoming cooperative and collaborative environment."
Very Myopic! The document is too wordy, and thus loses the sense of the Vision. Be concise! Just use the last statement (Recognize.....) ***It is offensive to imply that faculty has not incorporated these points, visions, which have been operative since the inception of this institution.
Statement too long. 5thbullet- add business and industry. The student is not included in any of the statements.
Meets the criteria, but need to combine bullets- needs to be shorter.
Needs to address helping students to what their goals could be. Expose the student to goals and careers they might never have heard of.
"Create a passion for learning" "Transform new knowledge into.." Omit 3rd statement- duplicates 4th statement. Change "tolerant"- embrace or encourage is better even celebrate is better- diversity not culture. Last statement is too commonly used- omit it.
When it is an institution? "CCRI is an institution that is": #1 strike "service", and "an appetite for…" #2 #3 eliminate these, redundant of #1. ...which will assist individuals in their intellectual development." #4 Strike "personal"- where individuals can strive to achieve their educational goals." #5 Take out "economic." #6 CCRI is recognized as the only community college in Rhode Island (just checking.....).
Should be shorter and more concise. Bullets are too wordy. Does not create an inspiration. Good working statement. Needs to create inspiration in the reader.
Recommendation: make the third statement the first; consolidate some statements – they are repetitive; the last statement needs to be more concrete- from whom do we expect excellence- who determines it?
We believe some of the bullets repeat the concepts or could be combined, as in the use of perhaps the last bullet (premier community college- excellence) in statement. CCRI, is the region's etc... will accomplish.... In accomplishing the listed bullets, we think #3 is in bullet #4 as will as # 5. Bullet #2 is "wordy". Varied ways of building knowledge would be understood in bullet #` "encourages an appetite for knowledge and varied...etc. It begs the question , how? We think it is answered in bullets #1 and #5.
Vision Statement meets the criteria, But too long. By the time you read the last vision statement you forget what the first one was. Also- vision statement #4 a bit redundant (cooperative collaborative) Vision statement #1 knowledge and intellectual curiosity- aren’t they the same/similar?
Vision Inspirational... Actively and overtly recognize individual and group accomplishments, successes and achievements of students, staff and faculty.
Eliminate assisting "individuals to achieve their own definition of success."
It needs to have more specific goals and objectives.
Last bullet "recognized as the regions" premier CC. How is region defined? Do we need to limit ourselves to a region when there is distance learning, etc... Change to " ..recognized as a premier community college".
#1 need to include global relationships and goals. Need ...community, statewide, nationally and worldwide. E.g. went to Dominican Republic taking in displaced students from LA + MISS. # 2 Vertical global communications. # 3 also # 4 specify students and faculty can achieve goals. e.g. Competitive pay scales.
Change "CCRI will accomplish its mission when it’s an institution." to "CCRI will continue to accomplish its mission because it is an institution..." Change 1st sentence to present tense.
Revisions needed in wording. Item 3: should begin "that brings hope and opportunity; provides a bridge..." Item 4 "that allows individuals to achieve personal…" we think the vision statement should be grammatically correct. Item 6: "that is recognized." We think the vision statement should be grammatically correct.
Last statement- would this be viewed as a negative by our fellow institutions? Too long. Last statement - make it "recognized for excellence and quality". Statement be made in Latin - a touch of class.
Bullet #5 wordy and redundant when compared with #2. Bullet #6 delete first five embody vision.
Criteria are meet. CCRI will accomplish its mission as an institution, thus changing the following bullets to fit appropriately. EX. ...it is vibrant, ..explores, ...of hope, ... works.
Continuous lifelong learning emphasis, non-conditional. Bullet #4 change "tolerant"/ ex. Embrace diversity. Bullet #6 national not regional. General: bullet statements too verbose/long.
Step 3 should say "to achieve success" not "their definition of success. Step 5 should read "statewide organizations to meet changing educational and economic development needs."
Bullet 4: where individuals can achieve personal and educational goals - ok. Individuals achieve community goals isn’t clear—doesn’t make sense. Bullet 4 –tolerant is not strong enough—I can tolerate but not accept. Change tolerant—to maybe embracing? Inviting? Whole thing a little long - consolidate? Bullets 6- say New England- not region. Bullet 2- explores new, varied and valid ways. They should be tested as effective.
It should be shorter, more concise and the last bullet could be omitted or the last bullet could become part of the mission statement.
#3 change definition to plural.
Include student adoption of institutional values. That connects values with vision. The intro "CCRI will accomplish" assumes we have not done any of what follows. "CCRI strives to achieve its vision as an institution that is"
Reshape structure of vision statement. Would rather have it as one flowing statement instead of bullets. Too long*. Do not like the phrase "culturally tolerant" instead we suggest, perhaps "we appreciate or embrace and welcoming" words.
The word "accomplish" suggests that the mission will end. The mission is ongoing and should not be reached with finality. Perhaps the word "conduct" would be a better choice. Last vision seems like we are expecting an award. Recognition from the outside cannot be controlled by us. We can only control what we do not how we are perceived.
Awkward heading- make it more direct "CCRI seeks to … lose "when it is an institution." Rephrase statement. "CCRI will accomplish its mission when the institution": action verbs. Add: provide space that fosters optimum learning. Take region out.
Not concise, too long, too detailed. Delete final bullet completely. Some people liked 3rd bullet, but felt this was not ambitious, idealistic ex. "culturally tolerant". Not future- orientation lacks inspiration. Change #3 to "cooperative, collaborative and culturally rich and dynamic".
At the end of statement #1 , include … and help each student recognize their full potential to beyond their goals. Add another bullet that addresses that we are located within many populations, we go to the student, as CCRI was originally intended. This part addresses the history piece.
Too long… Needs to fit on a coffee cup. Ho-Humm - too much - too squishy...Example: CCRI gives students the eyes that allow them to see". A People’s college where they realize their own unique potential" Eliminate last bullet – too corporate. "CCRI’s vision is to become a community of learners that empowers individuals to realize their personal goals and potential.
Edit: Repetitive #4. Use word community, try using word - environment. #1 is a goal not a vision. Keep simple. Consider adding importance of empowering students toward self-actualization. #4 Community, cooperative, collaborative, culturally --- too many "Cs"
Rewrite: CCRI will accomplish its mission when it is an institution: that encourages an appetite for knowledge and intellectual curiosity; explores new and varied ways of building knowledge and skills; of hope and opportunity, the bridge to intellectual development; where individuals can achieve personal, community and education goals by working together, meets the changing educational and economic development needs of the region, recognized as the state's premier community college.
Eliminate all bullets except for #6 which should be first, and #4.

Core Values Evaluation

"Blends thought and actions to meet dynamic community needs. ? Use of word "educate". Simplify wording
Integrity should treat all people with dignity not just colleagues and students.
Too watered down, too generic. No mention of adequate facilities and supplies as a priority. These set the tone/ environment for the other core values to flourish. "Atmosphere both physical and intellectual that encourages learning".
Core values are fine. The descriptions could be refined to be more stimulating.
The core values meet the criteria. These are wonderful things to strive for, but we hope these are "not just words." We need actions to back them up! Valuing the expertise of people in the front lines is often ignored or lacking entirely.
Only include "the individual" in the language. In first section: ...creating new learning opportunities for a maximum number of individuals.
Sentences are too long. Forgetting our students we should be opening doors instead of keeping students out.
Move "develop informed citizens" and "community service" to community portion. Delete "cultural" leave diversity. Core values "campus of learners" concept. Commitment to excellence or community.
Community should be number 1. Under community add after evolving needs... "as well as the economic and social development... of the community."
Unable to address (meeting criteria) because of issues discussed below. The first 3 values: Language of excellence, community, responsiveness are not engaging or provocative, too abstract. Effort to work around the acronym distracts the reader or more importantly, limits the choice of words to create core values statements. Does not caput true intent - not concrete, substantive. It's language is over-used, lost its meaning. Final value - Integrity - is well written and meets criteria.
It does meet 4 out 5. We need to strive for excellence. We need to put into practice what is stated in our core values.
Responsiveness - place learners before professionals.
Look great especially the parts about professional accountability and public trust.
CCRI is not responsive at this time. As stated all 4 are noble ideals, but they need a lot of work to implement. Language and content is good.
Sentences are too long.
Marvelous base for establishing mission.
CCRI is committed. Integrity - most critical. Add a clause that CCRI is committed. Integrity needs to include role model which drives behaviors. Outcomes are needed to check that these values come into reality and that there is real leadership to facilitate its or these values.
Because of the current strife between faculty and administration this statement seems more appropriate for "Vision"
Second value "practices collaboration" with whom? (Industry, success center, everything?) Does this mean we will be evaluated on this?
#1 "Commitment to excellence" - reverse order of commitments: possess integrity, you don’t exhibit it! You exhibit false modesty, for example. #2 Needs more emphasis on the scholarly community of the academy. #3 What happened to faculty, staff and students? Place academic aspirations. #4 Fine with this. Summarizing stress academics more.
Community- include "encourage student volunteerism". Could also include this as such: ...practices collaboration, encourages volunteerism.
Integrity is a value that can sink an organization should a litmus test be applied -- especially by the media. Be careful here. We do agree that integrity and its description is something that should be strived for.
Responsiveness: this order: academic, professional and personal.
Emphasize academic standards in the first "C"
Drop the gimmicky CCRI acronym. All the categories include a commitment. Can the first value be clarified by choosing another word such as "excellence" or "opportunity"? The other 3 values are clear. The first value covers too much ground- can it be focused?
Is the vehicle to assess this -- in terms of recognition-- the self evaluation statement for faculty? Give recognition based on input from all members of the community rather than a select few.
The Core Value should be the commitment to educational excellence. Period. The document is much too wordy and repeats itself. What are these innovative changes-? technological, philosophical etc? Are there funds for all these goals? Are services available to late afternoon and evening students? What does the administration do to support the library? What does the administration do to promulgate these values? What is meant by exhibiting institutional integrity? Fifteen minutes is not enough time!!
Faculty is often told to push students ahead; often students are not able to do college work.
Include local outlook global community in value #2. Value that guide our relations with each other. Include in community - collegiality, collaborate, and respect, professionalism. Problem with word citizens maybe replace with community.
Enhance skill-building of those who cross our path so that they may access and develop skills and abilities throughout their lifespan.