About the College

       The College’s work this year is informed and shaped by numerous initiatives at local, regional, and statewide levels. 

       First, the College embraces the mission, values, and agendas articulated by NKU’s strategic process called Vision, Values, and Voices, first formulated in 1997 and then re-examined in 2002.  After lengthy conversations with constituencies both within the University and throughout the metropolitan region, participants in the process concluded that NKU has achieved striking success in offering quality education to students and in connecting to surrounding communities.  Our vision remains unchanged:

Northern Kentucky University will become a preeminent, learner-centered, metropolitan university recognized for its contributions to the intellectual, social, economic, cultural, and civic vitality of the region and the Commonwealth.

Nonetheless, important new agenda items now join longstanding items to direct our efforts as we strive for greater measures of success.  For complete details on the University’s mission, core values, and strategic agenda, please visit Office of the President.

       Second, the College recognizes important conclusions recently reached through the Vision 2015 community planning initiative.  Phase #1 of this initiative began in 1995 when the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-County Economic Development Agency enlisted more than 1,000 regional participants to assess community development and to plan aggressive and widespread improvements.  Phase #2 of the initiative, co-chaired by NKU president James C. Votruba, began in 2005 with the intent to devise a 10-year blueprint to further define and transform Northern Kentucky’s future.  One of the six strategic directions focuses specifically upon educational excellence.  For complete details on Vision 2015, please visit Welcome to Vision 2015.

       Third, the College acknowledges directives from the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) whose mission is to coordinate change and improvement in Kentucky’s postsecondary education system.  CPE’s long-term goal is to raise the Commonwealth’s quality of life above national standards by the year 2020.  As part of this agenda, the CPE has adopted five questions to guide all education reform work from 2005-2010:

            1.  Are more Kentuckians ready for postsecondary education?
            2.  Is Kentucky postsecondary education affordable to its citizens?
            3.  Do more Kentuckians have certificates or degrees?
            4.  Are college graduates prepared for life and work in Kentucky?
            5.  Are Kentucky’s people, communities, and economy benefiting?

The College of Arts & Sciences will use these questions as foundation for its own growth across the upcoming academic year.  For more details on the CPE’s 2020 vision and five questions, please visit Five Questions of Postsecondary Education Reform.