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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 29, 2002) – The Milligan College Board of Trustees approved on Friday, April 26, a revision to the Milligan College mission statement. The new statement is shorter and captures the mission of the college more concisely, explained Milligan President Don Jeanes. It will go into effect immediately.
Previously a page in length, the new mission statement is one sentence: “As a Christian liberal arts college, Milligan College seeks to honor God by educating men and women to be servant-leaders.” The statement is followed by the current objectives and goals.
Jeanes noted that the focus of the newly revised mission statement is consistent with the college’s purpose and mission for the past 135 years.
“The wording has changed, but our focus has not,” said Jeanes. “This revision makes it even more clear that Milligan’s basic identity and purpose as a Christian liberal arts college is in preparing Christian leaders.”
In the fall of 2001, Jeanes appointed a committee to review the wording of the college mission statement, in response to a suggestion from the Institutional Purpose Committee of the college’s self-study process for re-accreditation. The committee noted that the unwieldy length and cumbersome wording of the college’s mission statement made it hard to quote from memory and difficult for those outside the college to fully understand. They encouraged the development of a statement that would be both memorable and citable.
The new mission statement is the product of a nine-member committee of faculty, administration, faculty, board members, and a student representative.
“Much of the wording is actually a reflection of suggestions from non-committee members,” said Sue Skidmore, associate dean, registrar, and director of institutional research and effectiveness. “This was a campus-wide initiative.”
The statement was reviewed by the President’s Cabinet and presented to the faculty in January. The final statement was then presented to the college’s Board of Trustees at their meeting last Friday. The statement was approved and will go into effect immediately.
For complete copies of the college’s mission statement, goals, and objectives, please contact the Public Relations Office at 423.461.8719 or PR@milligan.edu.
Milligan is a private Christian liberal arts college in Northeast Tennessee, nationally recognized for academic excellence. Consistently named one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, Milligan’s vision is to change lives and shape culture through a commitment to Christian leadership. For more information, visit www.milligan.edu or call 800-262-8337.