Mission statements, despite being referenced as the philosophical essences of their respective institutions, don?t get much respect on college campuses. Often wordy and cumbersome, they don?t get the airtime or T-shirt placement enjoyed by new advertising slogans or the classic Latin motto. Experts say the ideal statement for all organizations is between 40 and 70 words, and clearly articulates the organization?s desire to satisfy the needs of various stakeholders using aspirational and superlative terms. One can easily find numerous examples of declarations that fall outside suggested parameters. The City University of New York?s Borough of Manhattan Community College has a 338-word statement. The University of Wisconsin at Madison?s mission stretches to 425 words. And the University of Texas system?s multifaceted, bulleted statement tops out at 478 words.
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