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Judgment of Compliance

Narrative

Sam Houston State University has a clearly defined, comprehensive, and published mission statement [1] that is appropriate for higher education and addresses teaching, learning, research, and public service. The mission statement states that “Sam Houston State University provides high quality education, scholarship and service to qualified students for the benefit of regional, state, national, and international constituencies.” Based on this mission, the University is committed to the following values and supporting strategies:

Values

• Academic Excellence
• Student Success
• Innovation Focus
• Enduring Traditions
• Operational Efficiency

Supporting Strategies

• Foster a lifelong learning environment in support of a diverse faculty and staff who are excellent scholars, educators, and professionals.
• Promote a stimulating learning environment through the integration of academic settings, campus culture, and service.
• Increase and develop university resources and infrastructures that support the intellectual transformation of students.
• Enhance marketing outreach and visibility to include academic and scholarly activities through consistent and integrated messaging while optimizing communication channels.
• Promote efficient data driven decision making through the integration of centralized data analysis, review, and dissemination.
• Cultivate a continually sensitive and proactive response to the ever-changing needs of our constituents.

This mission statement has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas State University System Board of Regents [2] [3]. The mission statement is published in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs [4] [5] and Student Guidelines [6], and it is referenced throughout the institution’s website, including in the Faculty Handbook [7] and webpages such as the university’s About SHSU and Office of the President sites [8] [9]. The mission statement addresses the institution’s responsibilities to teaching, research, and service as mandated by Texas Education Code, Section 61.051, Subsection (a-5) [10]. The mission is specific to SHSU and is consistent with a Doctoral University: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification [11] [12].

As mandated by Texas Education Code, Section 61.051, Subsection (a-5), Sam Houston State University’s mission statement is evaluated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [10]. If changes to the mission statement are required, Sam Houston State University must gain approval from the Texas State University System Board of Regents and subsequently the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for recording and posting [13]. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last approved a mission statement revision for Sam Houston State University on June 3, 2015 [2].

Supporting Documentation

Documentation Reference	Document Title
[1]	SHSU Mission Statement
[2]	Mission Approval - June 3, 2015 - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
[3]	Mission Approval - November 7, 2014 - THECB
[4]	SHSU 2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog - Mission Statement
[5]	SHSU 2018-2019 Graduate Catalog - Mission Statement
[6]	Student Guidelines 2016-2018 - Mission Statement
[7]	SHSU Faculty Handbook Mission Statement Reference
[8]	About SHSU - Mission Statement
[9]	Office of the President - Mission Statement
[10]	Texas Education Code 61.051, Subsection (a-5)
[11]	Carnegie Classifications - Basic Classification Definitions
[12]	SHSU Carnegie Classification
[13]	THECB Mission Statement Procedures