‘Grow Intellectually,

‘Thrive Socially and

‘Live Purposefully’

New SUNY Oneonta President

Reduces Mission To 13 Words

ONEONTA – In campus-wide video, SUNY Oneonta President Barbara Jean Morris today announced the campus’ new mission statement: “We nurture a community where students grow intellectually, thrive socially and live purposefully.”

In an email to the campus, Morris said the mission arose through a series of “hackathons” during the spring semester.  A hackthon is a term used to collaboratively develop software packages.

Hundreds of members of the campus and the greater Oneonta communities participated in the college’s hackathons, the president’s listening tour and a vote, held in late April, to select SUNY Oneonta’s new mission. The 13-word statement replaces one that required 407 words.

The former one read: “Our mission is to provide services that advance the overall College mission to foster an individual student’s intellectual, personal, and civic development.

“We are committed to leadership in the management and integrity of the College’s human, financial, technology, physical and information resources.

“We serve students, faculty, staff and the greater college community in the most responsive, effective and efficient manner consistent with Federal, State and University policies.”

The old mission is further detailed under two subject headings:  “Quality of Campus Life” and “Divisional Goals.”