SSU's Evolving Mission Statement The Last Half Century: 1949-2000

by: M. Crow, IRP

November 3, 1997

Savannah State's mission statements has evolved over a half century and can be shown to reflect changing conditions in the institutional environment. The evolving statement can be traced conveniently through various College Catalogues entries for the period. Following is a brief synopsis of major changes to the institution's purpose as articulated and presented in those catalogs.

Between 1949 and 1957, SSU published in its catalog an "Introduction to Savannah State College" which included a statement on the "general purposes of the college," three specific "aims" of the college, and a selection listing "a broad scope of activities." In 1949 the college was said to be serving the interests of its "clientele"; by 1951 it was providing for "needs" of "youth".

Between 1958 and 1979, SSU published a separate section "Purposes and Objectives of the College" in which it listed several purposes (originally just two) and a longer number of objectives. Concern with "moral and spiritual values" to "refine and exalt human life" dropped from use after 1965. Beginning with 1958 SSU was affording opportunity for "students" and from 1971 to 1980 it was focused on encouraging and assisting "the revolution of rising expectations among disadvantaged Americans."

Between 1980 and 1989, SSU reduced the title of its message to a unitary "Purpose and Objectives of the College." Yet, the text continued to describe several purposes and for the first time indicted a special "historic commitment to the educational needs of the Black student..." (Though, to be sure, the Catalog has always included a separate historic sketch identifying the 1890 origins of SSU in the legislative act forming a "school for the education and training of Negro students.") Between 1980 and 1983, the text referred to students attaining "spiritual and moral stature." By 1983 the moral/spiritual text was deleted in favor of other "objectives" including "understanding" and contributing to resolving "problems and opportunities of urban and coastal communities."

Beginning in 1990, the Catalog first included "Mission Statement" as a sub-title of the "Purpose and Goals of the College." The term "missions" had appeared in the Purpose and Goals text between 1971 and 1980, but was not used in this text between 1980 and 1990. Also, beginning in 1990 the Catalog specifically indicates that the mission has been "broadened to embrace individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, or age." The goals statements were expanded from 8 to 12 items as the college now conceived of itself as "a unique cultural resource for the coastal region" able to "interpret and transmit the black legacy to all."

The current Catalog (1996-98) includes in its "mission statement" the first reference to a "diverse student population." This statement was crafted in response to a system-wide mandate and following an extensive University-wide review that was presented by a task force to President John Wolfe (7 June, 1995).* The statement no longer includes direct reference to "goals," having replaced them with three sets of "characteristics" forming common bond with the University System of Georgia, other Senior Colleges of Georgia's University System, and academic excellence in generally. Also, for the first time, needs of "African-American students" are described among the characteristics of SSU. (This is the most extensive mission statement found in SSU's catalog since 1949.)

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The 1995 "Mission Development Task Force" included the following membership: Ms Yvonne Mathis, Chair; George Ried, Kenneth Jordan, R.L.Stevenson, Carl Davis, Matthew Gilligan, Clara Elmore-Bain, Emily Crawford, Gian Ghuman, Rosalind Kent, Steven Smith, Yvonne Roberts, Thomas Hines, & Ervin Ogdon. (Copy of the final report together with miscellaneous related documents is retained in loose-leaf notebook form in the Office of Institutional Research & Planning.)