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<\/a>Those involved with UT\u2019s self-study believe the process will both illustrate and reinforce its focus on quality, continuous improvement and progress.<\/p>\nThe Higher Learning Commission will evaluate UT using five key criteria: Mission and Integrity; Planning for the Future; Student Learning and Effective Teaching; Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge; and Engagement and Service.<\/p>\n
Dr. Charles Blatz, professor in the Department of Philosophy, is the team leader for Criterion One: Mission and Integrity. <\/p>\n
The challenge for this criterion, he said, has been for UT to make clear the many ways its mission, vision and values are at work in its day-to-day activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur mission is more than just words,\u201d Blatz said. \u201cIt captures who we are and what we are about, who we aspire to be, what we are engaged in. It\u2019s not just a name on the back of a T-shirt; it\u2019s what we practice and aspire to as an institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
UT took on a larger presence Jan. 8, 2007, when the Board of Trustees approved the mission statement for the recently merged Medical University of Ohio and The University of Toledo. Since then, the mission, vision and value statements have been sprinkled generously throughout the fabric and face of UT. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you walk inside the Memorial Field House, you\u2019ll see our mission displayed on the wall,\u201d Blatz said. \u201cIt\u2019s on the reverse side of our business cards, posted prominently on our website, listed in our student literature. Basically, it\u2019s out there clearly for all of our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blatz said a review of UT\u2019s practices in academic engagement also demonstrated a campus-wide commitment to central aspects of the mission statement: student centeredness and diversity, success in founding research, and deep community engagement. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe state of Ohio has challenged all institutions of higher education to be more student-focused in what we do,\u201d Blatz explained. \u201cIt starts with access, bringing students here, helping with financial aid, and giving academic support, but part of being student-centered also is creating an atmosphere of broadening student experiences and engaging them in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, the report notes that UT\u2019s goal of supporting diversity while nurturing the successes of students, employees and faculty has yielded programs such as the President\u2019s Council on Diversity, the Culture Ambassadors, the Blue and Gold Scholarship Program, and the Minority Business Development Center.<\/p>\n
The self-study also relates the University mission and UT\u2019s Directions 2011 strategic plan. Blatz said it shows the appropriateness of UT stressing innovation and excellence in teaching, research and engagement tied to the scientific and technical needs of our community, as well as to cultural, humanistic and social scientific interests. UT\u2019s distinction as home to several state of Ohio centers for excellence in research also is documented.<\/p>\n
Blatz noted that the complexities of operating a world-class university and medical center boil down to a common focus. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are an incredibly active, dynamic university with many goals and endeavors,\u201d he said. \u201cBut within this dynamic culture, we\u2019re still a growing, working unity, a single university. Everyone is striving in a coherent and common direction toward improving the human condition, in one way or another.\u201d <\/p>\n
Blatz\u2019s colleagues on the Criterion One team are Dr. Defne Apul, Dr. Jeanne Brockmyer, Dr. Walter Edinger, Barbara Floyd, Dr. David Guip, Dr. Wayne Hoss, Dr. Saleh Jabarin, Susan Palmer, Dr. Carter Wilson and Dr. Bryan Yamamoto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools will visit UT next month. The University will be evaluated on five criteria. Read about Criterion 1 Mission and Integrity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15412"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15412\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}