The institution has a clearly defined and published mission statement specific to the institution and appropriate to an institution of higher education, addressing teaching and learning and, where applicable, research and public service.

_X_Compliance                      ___Partial Compliance                       ___Non-Compliance

Narrative

St. Petersburg College is in compliance with this requirement because it has a clearly defined and published mission statement that is specific to SPC and appropriate to an institution of higher education. 

Mission statement defined

St. Petersburg College has a clearly defined Mission:

St. Petersburg College Mission Statement

Mission statement process

The Mission is formally revised at least every five years with the latest formal revision completed in the 2004-2005 academic year by a committee representing Faculty, administrators, students, community leaders and members of the Board of Trustees and was approved by the Board of Trustees in May, 2005.  The Mission also is reviewed annually by President’s Cabinet before the new strategic planning cycle begins.  In the most recent review in January 2007, the President’s Cabinet recommended minor changes to the Board of Trustees Rule on the College’s mission and goals, including inserting the term “globally” in place of “in the State of Florida and other areas,” scheduled for consideration by the Board of Trustees on March 20, 2007.  This change is included the latest revision to Board of Trustees Rule to incorporate the changes adopted by the Board, placed on the SPC Web site upon adoption, and revised in the printed College Catalog for 2007-2008.  The prior revision in 2002 added the baccalaureate degrees, published in the 2002-2003 College Catalog.  SACS approved the addition of baccalaureate degrees at St. Petersburg College January 11, 2002, and commended SPC for its thorough planning and preparation for all phases of the implementation plan, from the original idea for addressing the community need for 4-year programs, to securing funding, to upgrading facilities, to hiring Faculty, librarians, support staff and administrators, to fine-tuning infrastructure such as the library collections, to incorporating student support programs and services, saying,

Excerpt from SACS report to Board of Trustees, January 2002

“The Committee commends St. Petersburg College for their vision, planning, and implementation of a creative and innovative expansion of programs to include baccalaureate degrees in the high-need areas of Nursing, Teacher Education, and Technology Management in their service region.”

Appropriateness of mission to an institution of higher learning

In matters of governance St. Petersburg College falls under the Florida Statutes for community colleges, with a special provision in statute defining SPC’s role as a four-year institution awarding selected baccalaureate degrees.

Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.65,  Community colleges; definition, mission, and responsibilities

(a)  The primary mission of St. Petersburg College is to provide high-quality undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the state. The purpose is to promote economic development by preparing people for occupations that require a bachelor's degree and are in demand by existing or emerging public and private employers in this state.

(b)  St. Petersburg College shall maintain the mission and policies of a Florida community college, including the open-door admissions policy and the authority to offer all programs consistent with a community college's authority.

SPC’s mission statement addresses the need within the State of Florida’s community college system to provide “accessible … postsecondary” education.  The Florida Statute 1004.65 states:

Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.65,  Community colleges; definition, mission, and responsibilities

“… the community colleges shall provide high-quality, affordable education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while combining high standards with an open-door admission policy.”

The SPC mission also addresses the need to provide “learner-centered education for students pursuing selected baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, applied technology diplomas and continuing education” and “promote economic and workforce development” as reflected in additional provisions of the Florida Statute: 

Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.65,  Community colleges; definition, mission, and responsibilities

Addressing Teaching, Learning and Public Service 

St. Petersburg College addresses teaching, learning, and public service in its mission statement in an earnest and thorough fashion.

• Public Service.  SPC is serious in its mission to promote economic development.  A specific College goal elaborates on the mission by seeking to promote economic and cultural development for the state through special education and training programs including collaborative labs initiatives, technical courses and work-shops, promotion of the arts, and services designed to enhance the competitiveness of individuals, agencies, businesses and industries in the local, state, national and global economies.  SPC has pursued this through the development of robust Corporate Training, Collaborative Lab, and Lifelong Learning departments, supporting the Leepa-Rattner Museum with a facility, equipment, and personnel, and by developing partnerships with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pinellas County Arts Council, the Pinellas County Economic Development office, Worknet Pinellas and the Florida International Museum. 

• Learning.  SPC’s mission focuses on providing a learner-centered education and seeks to deliver enriched learning experiences through the use of advanced technologies in the classroom, distance education courses, international study opportunities, and a comprehensive library for promoting literacy and research.  This part of the mission is further elaborated in College goals to provide programs in distance education, international study, and information literacy.

• Teaching.  SPC accomplishes its mission by developing an outstanding team of diverse Faculty and staff, providing students with advanced teaching and learning technologies in the classroom, and using innovative teaching methods.  SPC emphasizes this part of the mission through professional development and technology acquisition during the strategic planning and budgeting process, described in sections 3.3.1, 3.4.12, 3.5.4, and 3.7.3.

The distinctiveness of the institution and its values

With its emphasis on being a creative leader and partner with students, communities, and other educational institutions St. Petersburg College has a distinctive mission.  SPC’s President, Dr. Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., has published and spoken on the topic of entrepreneurial leadership for academic institutions.  His idea is to use creative means such as partnerships and grants to create synergy that allows the offering of unique programs and services.  Examples of this are the University Partnership Center, in which SPC provides the facilities and equipment and 15 other colleges and universities provide the courses and programs to increase access to baccalaureate and graduate programs in Pinellas County, and Worknet Pinellas, which offers one-stop career counseling centers at several campuses, jointly funded and staffed by SPC and the county.

The mission statement also stresses the College’s values:

• Accessible.  SPC supports the open admission ideals of community colleges with extensive college preparatory courses, financial aid, and campuses that can be found within 30 minutes of anywhere in Pinellas County.  Recent new locations in Midtown and Downtown increase accessibility in areas with limited access to transportation.

• Learner-centered, assuring a climate for student success.  SPC provides substantial, individualized help for every learner at Learning Support Centers and Libraries, and specialized programs for at-risk students.  Faculty are available 15 hours per week to help individual students.  Much of the professional development for Faculty and counseling staff is focused on learner-centered strategies and factors enhancing student success.

• Comprehensive.  SPC has become a uniquely comprehensive institution, not only because of its new four-year status offering baccalaureate degrees, but also in its outreach to high school students with its Charter High School and dual enrollment program, and its emphasis on reaching students across the academic spectrum: helping at-risk students through specialized programs and grants and offering challenges to “exceptionally dedicated students” through the Honors College and international offerings.

• An outstanding team.  SPC emphasizes and supports professional development of Faculty and staff with considerable annual funding and rewards Faculty and staff with highly competitive salaries.

• Diverse Faculty and staff.  SPC values diversity and includes an EA/EO review of the process used for every open Faculty and administrator position.

• Advanced teaching and learning technologies in the classroom.  SPC provides substantial classroom technology, including computers or laptop carts, projectors, and ELMOs, and the latest technology supporting health and public service programs (fire and police).  SPC has pursued grants that support the research, development and use of best practices in advanced technologies, including remote classroom technology and course management shells for every course offered, regardless of whether courses are distance or blended.

• Distance education courses.  SPC is the largest provider of distance education courses in the state of Florida.  The Project Eagle grant supports the conversion of a large number of traditional courses every year using the latest research in distance learning and a highly trained staff of instructional technologists.

• International study opportunities.   SPC has sought a variety of ties with institutions in other countries, allowing unique opportunities for students. Some international activities and honors include:  International Business practica, Faculty and student exchanges and internships with St. Petersburg [Russia] State University and Tallinn Technological University in Estonia, an English as a Second Language (ESL) program and international centers at the three largest campuses that offer information, guidance and support to international students during the transition period from their countries to the United States. 

• Innovative teaching methods.  Grants are one way that SPC has encouraged innovative teaching methods.  The Title III grant has supported the research and implementation of innovative teaching methods in developmental courses; the Project Eagle grant uses the latest research in distance learning to convert a large number of traditional courses to distance or blended courses, and the Perkins grant supports the Narrowing the Gulf conference that brings in the latest methods for teaching disabled students.

• Promoting literacy and research.  The SPC library is consistently ranked first in the annual Enrolled Student Surveys.  In addition, SPC requires all students to take a computer and information literacy course that emphasizes library research skills.  SPC has two approaches to developing strength in literacy skills:  the state of Florida’s Gordon rule requirement to produce written work of at least six thousand (24,000) words through 6 hours of English courses 6 hours in humanities, ethics, and social studies courses.

• Continuous institutional self-evaluation.  SPC evaluates all aspects of its academic and support programs and includes a self-evaluation of the institution’s success in achieving its goals in the President’s evaluation, as described in 2.5 and 3.3.1.

• Enduring commitment to excellence.  Acting on all of the above values leads to a commitment to excellence.  Student and community feedback supports the assertion that St. Petersburg College is committed to excellence and the institution recently celebrated Faculty Excellence as the theme of the 2005 Fall Faculty breakfast.

Publication and dissemination of mission

St. Petersburg College’s Mission are published and distributed widely in the College Catalog; District Board of Trustees’ Rules and Procedures Manual; St. Petersburg College Faculty Manual; Student Handbook and Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Manual, and are directly accessible on the College Web site from the Prospective Student page, Interested Visitor page, and Potential Employee page, as well as through the College Catalog and Student Handbook links on the Current Student page and the Institutional Research pages on the employees’ Staff Central.

SPC Web page with Mission and Goals

The College Mission is also discussed during New Employee Orientation.

PowerPoint slide from New Employee Orientation