Creating A Vision Statement for ISU Darren Blagburn Institutional Effectiveness blagdarr@isu.edu or x1846

Timeline/Outcome Vision Class: 15 mins Groups create a vision statement: 1 hr Craft ISU’s Vision Statement from the groups’ input: 1 hr/15 mins Outcome: An ISU vision statement for the IEAC’s and President’s approval then general feedback

Vision Statement-What is it? The vision describes where the organization is headed, what it intends to be A mental model of desired future state Idealistic, ambitious, inspirational and outcome based A standard of excellence Easily understood One-to-two sentences

Other University Vision Statements Arkansas State University aspires to be an academic leader recognized for innovation and quality in teaching and learning, international standing in strategic research areas, and commitment to outreach and service to the Delta and beyond. Cornell University will be widely recognized as a top-ten research university in the world, and a model university for the interweaving of liberal education and fundamental knowledge with practical education and impact on societal and world problems. The University of Idaho will expand the institution’s intellectual and economic impact and make higher education relevant and accessible to qualified students of all backgrounds.

Other University Vision Statements The University of Northern Iowa shall be a university community that nurtures an environment of intellectual vitality. A commitment to excellence, coupled with continuous improvement, will result in UNI being recognized nationally as an innovative, dynamic, and exciting community in which to learn, teach, and work. UNI will be known for educational quality, a student-centered focus, scholarship, teacher-scholar faculty, and service beyond the campus. Boise State University aspires to be a research university known for the finest undergraduate education in the region, and outstanding research and graduate programs.  With its exceptional faculty, staff and student body, and its location in the heart of a thriving metropolitan area, the university will be viewed as an engine that drives the Idaho economy, providing significant return on public investment.

Other University Vision Statements Northern Michigan University- Northern Michigan University will become the university of choice in the Midwest for students seeking a quality academic program with individualized attention in a high-tech learning environment. University of Northern Kentucky- NKU will be acclaimed by students, alumni, the region, and the commonwealth for: Our Success... in preparing outstanding graduates for a global society Our Contribution... to regional progress and economic growth Our Delivery... of distinctive academic programs Our Dedication... to the development and wellbeing of our people Our Effectiveness... in securing and managing resources sustainably

Attributes of a Vision Statement Clear (simple words and wording) Concise (one to two sentences- the fewer the words the better) Catchy (snappy without using slang) Memorable (easy to recall; easy to explain) Built on the foundation of mission and assessment of environment Focused on the future

Drafting a Vision Statement Determine one or more of the following Where the organization wants to go What the organization wants to accomplish What the organization wants to become Identify key phrases Draft an initial version using the key phrases Word-smith to reduce words and redundancies

Key Terms For Consideration Student centric: Supporting student success / preparing students Regional academic leader Nationally recognized programs Innovative Quality Transform Commitment to community Intellectual Creative Social engagement Opportunities Adaptive to community needs and environmental changes Focused on partnerships and collaboration

The Development Process Individually visualize what you see ISU will look like in 5 years - write it in a headline- 10 mins Each table come to a consensus on a headline within the group-30 mins Facilitator will record key phrases from those headlines Add them up the number of phrases (n), divide by 3 Everyone “votes” their top 3 “likes”- 10 mins This is a way to discern those with the most support from the least Discuss the top three, the bottom three and work toward the middle circling or crossing off the phrases until there is consensus on two or three phrases- 45 mins Craft the vision statement-60 mins “For the next couple of minutes just sit quietly. Don’t write anything, just relax. Imagine the future — three to five years from now. Imagine your organization has become everything you’ve hoped for.” “Allow an image to come to mind. What does this ideal picture look like? Explore this image. . . . Who is in it? . . . What’s going on in the scene? . . . What makes it so ideal? . . . What are people saying? . . . What are they doing? . . . Now, let that image go. . . . Allow another image to come into view. Explore this image. . . . Who’s in it? . . . What’s going on? . . . Where are you in this scene? . . . What’s it feel like to work here? . . . Now, allow this image to fade. . . . ” “For the next three minutes, jot down what you envisioned during this exercise. Please don’t talk during this exercise.” “Please sit quietly again and close your eyes. . . . Imagine that time in the future again. . . . A reporter from Chicago Tribune is going to do a story on your organization. The reporter’s focus is on why you are the leader in the industry. What would you show the reporter as examples of things that make you particularly proud? . . . Be specific in your thinking and explore this image in some detail. . . . Perhaps the reporter is asking you questions. How would you respond? . . . Allow this image to fade. Please open your eyes.” “Write a headline that came to mind during this last visualization exercise.” As a table, take 30 minutes to discuss your headlines and compose a headline that you can all achieve consensus on

Vision Statement Ideas EXAMPLE ONLY Idaho State University’s strives to be a regional academic leader by offering its students nationally recognized programs and collaborating as an adaptive, transformative partner to provide communities with educational and research solutions. Idaho State University shall be the Northwest's low-cost, higher education solution for students desiring a quality education. It will focus on community partnerships by presenting real-world solutions to public and private organizations’ facing challenges. Idaho State University aspires to become an institution that is a student- centric, low-cost alternative in the Northwest and dedicated to developing and maintaining partnerships that support communities’ needs.