Mission, vision, and values

A group of students conversing outside in front of Founders Hall with New Main in the background

Honoring our history and embracing our future

Metro State University is committed to operationalizing and infusing the Mission, Vision, and Values statements throughout its culture. The goal is for the university community to understand, recite, be engaged, live out, and be inspired by the Misson, Vision, and Values. Metro State strives to permeate these statements into all we do, including strategic planning, university master planning, policies and procedures, human resource practices, and throughout every division, department, individual’s daily work, actions, interactions, and behaviors.

Metro State conducted a comprehensive review and evaluation of its mission, vision, and values statements following the recommendations of our Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Liaison Officer and in accordance with the requirements of the Minnesota State System of Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees.

Efforts undertaken included:

Creating a Mission, Vision, and Values taskforce comprised of faculty, staff, and students
Engaging with alumni, students, faculty, staff, alumni board, and foundation board throughout the process
Undertaking detailed research, white papers, surveys, two rounds of focus groups to refine statements, town halls, and several feedback conversations to inform and refine the work of the taskforce
Rolling out the finalized statements to the university community in December 2023
Creating a detailed and sustainable implementation plan for 2024 and beyond

The statements reflect Metro State’s core identity as a comprehensive urban university committed to meeting the higher education needs of the Twin Cities and greater metropolitan population, with a strong connection to our communities' lifelong learners and a continued focus on removing barriers to access to educational attainment.

The Minnesota State Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the revisions in March 2024.

Mission

How we describe the work we do.

Metro State University empowers learners to transform their lives and communities through relevant, student-centered education in an inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive learning environment.

Vision

How we see our work evolving into the future.

Metro State University will deliver the transformative power of higher education to all. As a national leader, we will innovate to meet emerging challenges, remove barriers to access and success, and propel the social and economic mobility of diverse learners and their communities.

Values

How we do our work. The fundamental pillars that support our mission and vision and bring them to life.

Anti-racism

We actively identify, challenge, and change the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism to create a more equitable and just university. We equip learners to be agents of change.
Inclusion

We seek unity in diversity, find strength in our differences, and create a space where all people feel like they belong and can contribute, while identifying, challenging, and changing the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic bias against people based on their age, race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, religious beliefs, immigration status, sexuality, social class, or disability status.
Integrity

We expect and support honesty, transparency, fairness, and curiosity from all members of the university community. We listen to understand, seek reconciliation of differences, and hold each other accountable.
Meaningful Education

We inspire and challenge diverse learners to pursue and apply knowledge for the good of their communities, recognizing competencies achieved through unique lived experiences, discoveries, individualized study, and engagement. We equip learners with the knowledge, communication and critical thinking skills, and information literacy to analyze and resolve the problems of today and tomorrow.
Transformation

We accelerate social mobility and economic advancement of learners and graduates, their families, and their communities by providing a dynamic and affordable education that helps them achieve their aspirations. Learners see a Metro State University education as a catalyst for their personal transformation.

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