Strategic Plan Mission and Purposes

Peru State Seal

 

Mission and Purposes

 

Mission

Peru State College provides students of all backgrounds access to engaging educational experiences to strengthen and enrich communities, Nebraska and the world.

Vision

Peru State College will be renowned for transforming student lives through personal and engaging educational experiences.

Values

Peru State College lives its mission and vision through engagement in the classroom, engagement across campus, and engagement in the region and beyond while valuing:

  • Pride
    We proudly celebrate our history as Nebraska’s first college, our heritage of educating all students, and our tradition of achievement by students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We cherish the stately Campus of a Thousand Oaks entrusted to us.
  • Excellence
    We pursue excellence through best practices and innovation in scholarship, teaching, research, and student development. We commit to providing exceptional facilities and resources supporting an engaged collegiate experience.
  • Resilience
    We recognize resilience as a key factor in success. We provide support and encouragement to achieve high standards by cultivating passion and perseverance.
  • Unity
    We embrace unity as a diverse and inclusive community. We believe in creating a culture of respect, mutual support, and understanding. We lead and model this culture on campus, in the region, and around the world.

Background

The purposes and educational mission for the state colleges are clearly outlined by the Nebraska State College System (NSCS), the Nebraska State Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE) and Nebraska State Law. The above mission statement was developed by the college to fulfill the purposes outlined by the NSCS, the CCPE and the state legislature. Pages 3-6 of this document give the Nebraska State College System policies that provide the most relevant guidance related to mission and purposes. Pages 7-9 give the most relevant purposes outlined by the CCPE. The Nebraska statute is found on page 2.

Peru State College’s mission, vision, core values and strategic plan must fulfill the direction outlined by the NSCS, the CCPE and state law.

Summary: NSCS Direction Related to Mission and Purposes (Full document on pages 3-6)

  1. Core Values from Policy 2510
    1. Provide a safe, stimulating, caring, and enriching learning experience.
    2. Meet the changing needs of our students and the state.
    3. Assure financial, programmatic, and geographic access to NSCS institutions.
    4. Maintain affordable tuition and fees.
    5. Provide opportunities for applied research.
    6. Foster cooperative ventures among NSCS institutions and other agencies and organizations.
    7. Emphasize participation in public service and service learning.
    8. Recruit and retain quality faculty and staff.
  1. Board guidance from Policy 3000
    1. The Colleges shall admit as students those persons who have graduated from an accredited high school in Nebraska, or who present evidence of the achievement of the equivalent academic level to that of high school graduation.

Summary: CCPE Direction Related to Mission and Purposes (Full document on pages 6-9)

  1. Programmatic direction
  • Its first instructional priority is the provision of baccalaureate general academic, occupational and education degree program.
  • Its second instructional priority is to provide master’s programs in education and other disciplines authorized by statute or by the Commission.
  • Its third priorities are applied research, public service activities, and continuing education activities that serve their geographic service area, except in programs where a college has been assigned the responsibility to provide a particular service on a statewide basis.
  1. Instruction direction
  • Teacher education, business, and liberal arts education leading to a baccalaureate degree are the major emphases of state college.
  • General education courses permeate all undergraduate education at the state college. Each college offers a core of general education courses that provides a foundation for all other programs.
  1. Research direction
  • Research that enhances the state colleges' regional roles and is within their mission is appropriate as part of their third and last priority, and shall not supplant the state college's emphasis on teaching.
  1. Public service direction
  • Each state college identifies strengths and capabilities within its role and mission that best serve its region's public service needs.
  • Whenever possible, public service activities are related to and supportive of instruction.

Nebraska Revised Statute 85-957

Peru State College; programs authorized.

Peru State College may maintain its existing baccalaureate general academic, baccalaureate occupational, and baccalaureate professional degree programs and shall limit new baccalaureate degree programs to the needs of its unique service area generally defined as the state's southeast region. Peru's cooperative master's degree program in education with the university may be maintained. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges, Peru State College may offer a Master of Science degree in organizational management with a focus in entrepreneurial and economic development.

Source

  • Laws 1978, LB 756, § 41;

Mission and Purposes

Nebraska State College System

The Nebraska Statement College System outlines its direction for the colleges in several policies. Policy 2510, Mission Statement, Core Values, and Vision Statement and Policy 3000 Admission Requirements; Undergraduate; General are the most pertinent. All Board policies can be reviewed at https://www.nscs.edu/policy-manual .

Policy: 2510 Mission Statement, Core Values, and Vision Statement

Mission Statement

The Nebraska State College System serves our students, communities and state by providing high quality, accessible educational opportunities.

Core Values

  • Provide a safe, stimulating, caring, and enriching learning experience.
  • Meet the changing needs of our students and the state.
  • Assure financial, programmatic, and geographic access to NSCS institutions.
  • Maintain affordable tuition and fees.
  • Provide opportunities for applied research.
  • Foster cooperative ventures among NSCS institutions and other agencies and organizations.
  • Emphasize participation in public service and service learning.
  • Recruit and retain quality faculty and staff.

Vision Statement

Chadron State College, Peru State College, and Wayne State College, along with the System Office and the Board of Trustees constitute the Nebraska State College System.

Working together with a unity of purpose:

We will become a premier system of state colleges that will be recognized as centers for intellectual growth, cultural enlightenment, and economic development.

We will serve as a model of collaborative educational excellence, setting standards for strengthening individuals and Communities through knowledge, service, leadership, and global understanding.


Policy: 3000 Admission Requirements; Undergraduate;

 

Mission and Purposes

Nebraska’s Coordinating System for Postsecondary Education (CCPE)


Nebraska State Constitution, Article VII-14, establishes the authority of the CCPE and reads as follows:

On January 1, 1992, there shall be established the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education which shall, under the direction of the Legislature, be vested with the authority for the coordination of public postsecondary educational institutions.

The full constitutional article can be found at http://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=VII-14.

The following pages are taken from Section B of Chapter 7 of the CCPE’s Comprehensive Statewide Plan for Postsecondary Education approved November 28, 2000. The full plan can be found at https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED572594.pdf.


State Colleges' Role and Mission

The state colleges at Chadron, Peru and Wayne are regional institutions that provide educational programs and public services to meet needs indigenous to their service areas. State colleges historically have served "traditional-age" students; however, in more recent years they have expanded to meet the needs of non-traditional students, who often are place-bound individuals seeking professional and personal development.

  • The Nebraska State College System’s programmatic service areas, as defined in statute, include:
  • Its first instructional priority is the provision of baccalaureate general academic, occupational, and education degree programs.
  • Its second instructional priority is to provide master's programs in education and other disciplines authorized by statute or by the Commission.
  • Its third priorities are applied research, public service activities, and continuing education activities that serve their geographic service areas, except in programs where a college has been assigned the responsibility to provide a particular service on a statewide basis.
  • Delivery of academic transfer and pre-professional associate degree programs for which a degree may be awarded if approved by the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State College System and the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, and upon demonstration of a compelling need and unique capacity of the state college to offer such a program. Associate degree programs, however, are a less-needed function of a state college and are directed to community colleges whenever possible. This factor will be considered in the review of new program proposals by the Coordinating Commission.
  • Certain responsibilities within the Nebraska State College System’s role and mission are appropriate to more than one of its institutions. When considering new instructional programs, research projects, and public service activities, the Board of Trustees of the system determines whether or not an actual unmet need exists and, if so, assigns that need a priority. If it has sufficient priority, the Board then directs responsibility for meeting that need to the state college that is best able to meet the need. Geographic access, institutional expertise, and financial, human, and physical resources are all considered in selecting the appropriate institution.

INSTRUCTION

The first two priorities of the Nebraska State College System relate to instruction. The state colleges have evolved from their earlier role as teachers’ colleges into more comprehensive institutions that provide diverse educational opportunities to their region. Future expansion of state college programs will respond to regional educational needs, subject to institutional capacity and quality assurance.

  • State Colleges best serve the people of the state by focusing on programs and services that have the broadest implications and demand within their region.
  • Teacher education, business, and liberal arts education leading to a baccalaureate degree are the major emphases of state colleges.
  • General education courses permeate all undergraduate education at the state colleges. Each college offers a core of general education courses that provides a foundation for all other programs.
  • Graduate-level programs are proposed only when they are within the role and mission, when resources are available, and when there is evidence of ongoing need and demand.
  • State colleges and the Coordinating Commission, through the established program review process, evaluate existing and proposed new instructional programs to determine if they comply with institutional objectives, meet student and state needs, and whether they constitute unnecessary duplication.
  • Student success courses, such as study skills, library skills, and tutoring, are not to be defined as developmental courses. State colleges are encouraged to continue to offer these survival skills courses for their students.
  • Each state college provides continuing education opportunities to its region that are within the institution's role and mission and that do not represent unnecessary duplication.

RESEARCH

High quality teaching is the primary focus of state colleges. Research at state colleges is strongly linked to and supportive of the state colleges' emphasis on undergraduate teaching.

  • Research that enhances the state colleges' regional roles and is within their mission is appropriate as part of their third and last priority, and shall not supplant the state college's emphasis on teaching.

PUBLIC SERVICE

The state colleges are recognized for the significant public service role they provide in the educational, cultural, and economic development of their service areas. State colleges meet their public service mission with emphasis on educational outreach programs, cultural enrichment programs, and assistance to the businesses and communities of their geographic region of the state.

  • Each state college identifies strengths and capabilities within its role and mission that best serve its region's public service needs.
  • Whenever possible, public service activities are related to and supportive of instruction.
  • The state colleges have responsibility to provide regional public service activities   within the scope and limitation of their resources.
  • State colleges use distance learning and instructional technologies to the best effect possible within available resources to provide access to educational, cultural, and personal development activities within their regions.

Peru State College (Chapter 7-20)

Peru State College is classified as a Master's (comprehensive) College/University II. Peru State College offers undergraduate programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in arts and sciences, business, and teacher education.

  • Peru State College focuses on high quality undergraduate programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in arts and sciences, business, and teacher education, all enhanced by a coherent general education program.
  • Peru State College offers the Master of Education degree.
  • Peru State College’s new baccalaureate degree programs will reflect the needs of its service area and the priorities of the State College Board of Trustees.