Possible New Mission Statement

Version One

Draft – June ASSEMBLY, 2003

Eastern Oregon University [EOU] is a community of scholars engaged in changing the world. By integrating the liberal arts and sciences and the professions, EOU educates committed professionals, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners.

EOU is situated in a beautiful valley, encircled by mountains, and it has a historic commitment to serving its region. However, EOU is also part of a global community of people who value open inquiry, creative expression, analytic thought, civic engagement, intercultural understanding, and service to others.

As both a local and a global university, EOU is particularly dedicated to:

• A liberal arts tradition that encourages students to become creative, critical thinkers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens, open to new ways of looking at the world;

• Professional and pre-professional programs, supported by the liberal arts, that prepare students for important work in the world;

• The creation of knowledge through scholarly pursuits;

• Access to quality in education, for students on campus and at a distance;

• Collaborations and partnerships with other colleges and universities; public schools; and international, national, regional, and local institutions and agencies that add to the possibilities of our place.

• Collegial relationships and respect for diverse views between faculty, staff, students, and community, befitting an environment of mutual, and perpetual, learning;

• A more equitable, just and informed world.