As the first step in the strategic planning process, President Gonzalez charged a small group of university leaders to review and refresh the University’s mission and vision with input from the full University community. With guidance from conversations with each of the University senates and input from a comprehensive survey, a revised mission was drafted and presented to the Ohio University Board of Trustees in April 2024. This is the first comprehensive update to the Mission and Vision since 2007.
The OHIO Mission
To hold the door open to higher education so that all those eager to solve humanity's most urgent challenges might enter to learn, connecting them with experiences and discovery that will help them think critically, care deeply, lead boldly, and ultimately depart to serve.
The OHIO Vision
To deliver the most valuable university education in Ohio, and lead as one of the most valued public universities in the nation.
- For students, we will connect each student with personalized experiences that ensure their lifelong success while maximizing opportunities for an affordable education.
- For communities and partners, we will be eager collaborators in addressing challenges and advancing opportunities.
- For our state, we will remain committed to serving students in and recruiting students to Ohio and be actively responsive to evolving workforce and educational needs.
- For all, we will invest in research and creativity that translates to solutions, delivering value far beyond Ohio’s borders.
Our OHIO Values
- We believe that a University education can and should be both academically excellent and accessible to all who seek it.
- We fully embrace that the educational experience, at its best, can and must ensure success for every student.
- We are confident that learning happens in community and through experiences, and we work to build both into all programs and modalities, in and out of the classroom.
- We are committed to working with business and community partners, not by delivering knowledge already achieved but by collaborating to build new knowledge together.
- We recognize that our place in the world has value in our work – that what we can teach and learn in the heart of Appalachia can shape the success of our region and be applied far beyond these 13 states.
- We expect respect across differences and recognize our responsibility to practice empathy, to appreciate diverse perspectives and cultures, and to develop the capacity to solve problems that transcend borders.
- We remain resolute that students enter to learn and depart to serve, and we work to inspire students to apply their education to improve the world.
Engagement Report
In November and December of 2023, the Mission and Vision work group conducted a University-wide survey and met with shared governance groups for input.
Mission/Vision Committee Members
- Robin Oliver (co-chair) — Vice President
University Communications & Marketing - Lyn Redington (co-chair) — Vice President
Student Affairs - Rebecca Dingus— Associate Professor, Marketing
College of Business - Reagan Farmer— Student Senate Treasurer
Honors Tutorial College '25 - Lisa Harrison— Interim Dean
Patton College of Education - Teri Peasley— Associate Professor, Instruction
Patton College of Education
Regional Higher Education
- John McCarthy— Dean
College of Health Sciences and Professions - David Nguyen— Dean
University College - Amy Taylor-Bianco— Professor, Management
College of Business - Brooke Preston— Associate Director of Creative Strategy
University Communications & Marketing - Carly Leatherwood (ex officio)
— Chief of Staff
Office of the President