By Olivia Krauth–

U of L’s mission statement got a facelift during Jan. 14’s Board of Trustees meeting.

The changes were made to reflect U of L’s current trajectory and goals.

After starting with a group of administrators, students and faculty, the trustees approved the following:

“The University of Louisville pursues excellence and inclusiveness in its work to educate and serve its community through 1) teaching diverse undergraduate, graduate and professional students in order to develop engaged citizens, leaders and scholars, 2) practicing and applying research, scholarship and creative activity, and 3) providing engaged service and outreach that improve the quality of life for local and global communities.  The university is committed to achieving preeminence as a nationally recognized metropolitan research university.”

Board chair Larry Benz said the new statement was recommended by President James Ramsey and Interim Provost Neville Pinto. Benz was unsure how long the new mission had been in the works or why a new one was written.
“I do believe that organizations should revisit their mission statements on an occasional basis and update them to reflect any changes that they believe are now more pertinent to their core mission and purpose,” Benz said.

The new statement replaced the former mission statement below:

“The University of Louisville shall be a premier, nationally recognized metropolitan research university with a commitment to the liberal arts and sciences and to the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens through the pursuit of excellence in five interrelated strategic areas:

  1. Educational Experience
  2. Research, Creative, and Scholarly Activity
  3. Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Communication
  4. Partnerships and Collaborations
  5. Institutional Effectiveness of Programs and Services.”

This story is ongoing. Check back for updates.