McNeese State University > Institutional Research and Effectiveness > 2022-2023 Mission and Foundational Statements

2022-2023 Mission and Foundational Statements

Our Mission

McNeese State University is a student-centric university whose mission is to change the lives of students through quality education and to provide services to the employers and communities in its region. McNeese uses a traditional admissions process based on courses completed, grade point average (GPA), and standardized test scores.

Audiences

McNeese is responsible for serving:

  1. Residents of southwest Louisiana who have completed high school and are seeking either a college degree or continuing professional education;
  2. Two-year college transfer students, particularly those from SOWELA Technical Community College;
  3. Employers in the region, both public and private, school districts, healthcare providers, local governments, and private businesses;
  4. Economic development interests and regional entrepreneurs; and
  5. The area community, by providing a broad range of academic and cultural activities and public events.

Array of Programs and Services

  1. An array of liberal arts programs at the baccalaureate level – arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences – appropriate to a teaching institution with a predominately undergraduate student body.
  2. Baccalaureate programs in education, engineering, business, nursing, selected allied health fields, mass communication, and criminal justice.
  3. Master’s programs primarily related to education, engineering, arts, sciences, nursing, and business.
  4. Doctoral programs in professional fields.
  5. Support for area K-12 schools seeking college general education courses for advanced students and assistance in ensuring that their graduates are college- and career-ready.
  6. Services specifically designed to meet the needs of regional economic development, such as small business development, support for entrepreneurs, and problem solving.

Special Programs/Features

  1. Programs in entrepreneurship and small business development supported by the Southwest Entrepreneurial and Economic Development (SEED) Center.
  2. Agricultural and related sciences with opportunities for experiential learning at three working farms and the Center for Advancement of Meat Processing and Production (CAMPP).
  3. Custom academic programs and professional certifications integrated with area business and industry.
  4. Applied undergraduate research partnerships in engineering, sciences, and allied health.
  5. Cultural events designed to connect McNeese with the regional arts community and K-12 education.

Our Vision: FIRST CHOICE!

McNeese will be the first choice for Southwest Louisiana:

  • The first choice for students seeking a university degree.
  • The first choice for employers seeking university graduates.
  • The first choice for donors wanting to support the community.
  • The first choice for organizations seeking professional advice.
  • The first choice for faculty and staff seeking a collegial and productive work environment.

Our Statement of Purpose

We change lives through excellence with a personal touch!

  • We change the lives of students through a mix of research, instruction, and student life activities, with a focus on student learning and mentorship. We provide a personal touch!
  • We change lives in SWLA by improving the level of education and the overall economic development in our region. We provide excellence! 
  • We improve the quality of life in SWLA through a range of academic and cultural activities and public events. We change lives!

Our Pillars of Service

We support our state and our region through Three Pillars of Service:

  • Stewardship: We will be good stewards of state resources and provide cost-effective education to our community.
  • Engagement: We will engage with our community by providing employable graduates as well as by serving as a center for learning and artistic creativity.
  • Excellence: We will strive for excellence in all we do.

Our Core Values

Trust

  • Trust we will act with honesty and integrity.
  • Trust we will respect one another and the cultural differences among us.
  • Trust we will have the courage to do the right thing.
  • Trust we will do what is best for our students, our university, and our state.

Mentorship

  • Mentor our peers and inspire them to maintain excellence.
  • Mentor our students and inspire them to achieve excellence.