How to Read this Document
Each draft Vision/Mission is coded three times – once for circled words/phrases (yellow), once for
underlined words/phrases (green), once for words/phrases struck through (blue). Within each, there are
four levels of coding, as follows:

The first level is the highlight – if you follow a highlight all the way through to the end, you will
see a number in parenthesis; this is the number of groups that circled/underlined/struck through
this phrase.

The second level is the underline – within a highlight, groups may have circled/underlined/struck
through a phrase; this is indicated by an underline within a highlight—follow the underline to the
end and you will see a number in parenthesis that is also underlined; this indicates how many
groups indicated this phrase.

The third level is the bold – the same is true here.

The fourth level is the italics – the same is true here.
Here is an example from the first mission statement, words that were circled:
The University of Northern Iowa is dedicated to providing educational experiences that inspire students
(2) to embrace challenge, develop critical inquiry (4) (7) and creative abilities (6), productively engage
with their community (1) (6) (6), and become informed citizens (2) of a global society (2) (11) (5).

5 groups circled this entire phrase

6 groups circled “creative abilities, productively engage with their community”

6 groups circled “engage with their community”

1 group circled “community”
Finally, in one case you will see a double underline; this is where two underlines cross over each other.
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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DRAFT NUMBER ONE √+ = 15, √ = 20, √- = 6
CIRCLED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national comprehensive (6) university (6) that challenges (10) and supports (8) students (2) in
achieving personal and professional (2) success (6) through offering applied (2), engaged (5), and
personalized (5) experiences (1) (6).
Mission (entire mission = 2): The University of Northern Iowa is dedicated to providing educational
experiences that inspire students (2) to embrace challenge, develop critical inquiry (4) (7) and creative
abilities (6), productively engage with their community (1) (6) (6), and become informed citizens (2) of
a global society (2) (11) (5). Faculty and staff prepare students to thrive in a dynamic world (3) with
reason (1), creativity (1), and compassion (1) (3). In a rigorous (2) academic and supportive environment
(7), students synthesize broad knowledge and in-depth study (1) to live productive lives. As a result, UNI
graduates are valued as thoughtful, innovative citizen (2)-leaders (1) (2) (2).
UNDERLINED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national (1) comprehensive (2) university (3) that challenges (1) and supports students (3) in
achieving personal (4) and professional success (5) through offering applied, engaged (4), and
personalized experiences (1) (6).
Mission: The University of Northern Iowa is dedicated to providing educational experiences that inspire
(1) students to embrace challenge (4), develop critical inquiry (1) and creative abilities (3), productively
engage (1) with their community, and become informed citizens of a global society (1) (2). Faculty and
staff prepare students to thrive in a dynamic world (3) with reason, creativity, and compassion (2). In a
rigorous academic and supportive (1) environment (3), students synthesize broad knowledge and indepth study (1) to live productive lives (2). As a result, UNI graduates are valued as thoughtful,
innovative citizen-leaders (1) (2) (2).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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STRIKE THROUGH WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national (8) [nation’s premier/premier] comprehensive university that challenges and supports
students in achieving personal and professional success through offering applied, engaged (1), and
personalized experiences (1).
Mission: The University of Northern Iowa is dedicated to providing (1) educational experiences that
inspire students to embrace challenge, develop critical inquiry and creative abilities, productively (2)
engage with their community (1), and become informed (1) citizens of a global society. Faculty and staff
prepare students to thrive in a dynamic world (1) with reason, creativity, and compassion (1). In a
rigorous academic and supportive environment, students synthesize broad knowledge and in-depth study
(2) to live productive lives. As a result, UNI graduates are valued as (1) thoughtful, innovative citizenleaders (1) (1) (3).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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DRAFT NUMBER TWO √+ = 15, √ = 18, √- = 10
CIRCLED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: The University of Northern Iowa will serve (1) as a national leader (7) for the creation of a 21st
century education (1) intent upon developing the whole person (8), at once preparing students for
professional careers (1) and fostering curiosity (8), joy, and wisdom (2) (1) (1).
Mission (1 for entire Mission): As Iowa’s only regional, comprehensive university (2), the University of
Northern Iowa is dedicated to providing an innovative and transformative (5) education grounded in the
liberal arts (11) that engages students in experiential learning (5) (3), including civic engagement (10),
undergraduate scholarship (3), and internships (2). Students, staff, and faculty are inspired to cultivate
inquiry (3), expand the imagination (2), offer service to others (2), promote and respect diversity (16), and
foster sustainability (13) (5). With its emphasis on teaching and learning (6), the university pursues
academic excellence (2), supports scholarship and discovery, and recognizes scientific, artistic, and other
modes of expression (1) (2).
UNDERLINED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: The University of Northern Iowa will serve as a national (5) leader for the creation of a 21st
century (4) education intent upon developing the whole person (4) (1), at once preparing students for
professional careers (1) and fostering curiosity (2) (1), joy, and wisdom (1).
Mission: As Iowa’s only regional, comprehensive university (1), the University of Northern Iowa is
dedicated to providing an innovative and transformative education (3) grounded in the liberal arts (2) that
engages students (1) in experiential learning (1), including civic [community] engagement (2),
undergraduate [student] scholarship (1), and internships (1). Students, staff, and faculty are inspired to
cultivate inquiry (1), expand the imagination, offer service to others (1), promote and respect diversity
(1), and foster sustainability (4). With its emphasis on teaching and learning (4), the university pursues
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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academic excellence (3), supports scholarship (3) and discovery, and recognizes scientific, artistic, and
other modes of expression (4).
STRIKE THROUGH WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: The University of Northern Iowa will serve as a national (4) leader (2) for the creation of a 21st
century education (23) (1) intent upon developing the whole person (2), at once preparing students for
professional careers (1) (3) and fostering curiosity, joy (7), and wisdom (1) (4) (7).
Mission: As Iowa’s only regional (2), comprehensive university (8), the University of Northern Iowa is
dedicated to providing an innovative (2) and transformative (2) education grounded in the liberal arts (1)
that engages students in experiential learning, including civic engagement, undergraduate scholarship (2)
(4), and internships (6). Students, staff, and faculty are inspired to cultivate inquiry (1), expand the
imagination, offer service to others (1), promote and respect diversity, and foster sustainability (1). With
its emphasis on teaching and learning, the university pursues academic excellence, supports scholarship
and discovery, and recognizes scientific, artistic, and other modes of expression (1) (1) (1) (2).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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DRAFT NUMBER THREE √+ = 18, √ = 14, √- = 8
CIRCLED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national comprehensive (5) university (4) that collectively engages students (7) through
cultivating critical inquiry (4) and creative thought (3) (16) and advancing applied and experiential (2)
learning (6) in ways that foster community (4), passion (2), and the curiosity (6) (3) needed for career
success and a fulfilling life (5) (4).
Mission: To provide efficient, effective and challenging (2) learning opportunities (1) that are broad and
inclusive (4) in nature (1) while also preparing students with the expertise (2) necessary to become
engaged, global (7) citizens (10); preparing students to embrace challenge (6); meeting society’s needs
for skilled professionals (1) (2); engaging the entire university community (2) to personalize (1), promote
and expand our programs (1); and engaging public and private organizations (1) with internships, projects
and service learning opportunities (1).
UNDERLINED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national comprehensive (1) university (1) that collectively (1) engages students (2) through
cultivating critical inquiry (1) and creative thought (1) and advancing applied and experiential (1)
learning (2) in ways that foster community, passion, and the curiosity (1) (4) needed for career success
and a fulfilling life (1) (3) (1).
Mission: To provide efficient, effective and challenging learning (2) opportunities that are broad and
inclusive (1) (1) in nature while also preparing students with the expertise necessary to become engaged,
global citizens (2) (1); preparing students to embrace challenge (4); meeting society’s needs for skilled
professionals (1); engaging the entire university community to personalize, promote and expand our
programs; and engaging public and private organizations (1) with internships, projects and service
learning opportunities (1) (1).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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STRIKE THROUGH WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: A national (7) comprehensive (2) university that collectively engages (1) students through
cultivating critical inquiry and creative thought and advancing applied and experiential learning in ways
that foster community (1), passion (2), and the curiosity needed for career success (5) and a fulfilling life
(2) (2).
Mission (entire mission: 1): To provide efficient (12), effective (4) and challenging (1) learning
opportunities that are broad and inclusive in nature (3) (3) while also preparing students with the
expertise necessary (2) to become engaged, global citizens; preparing students to embrace challenge (1)
(1); meeting society’s needs for skilled professionals (6); engaging the entire university
community to personalize, promote and expand our programs (3); and engaging public and private
organizations (4) with internships, projects and service learning opportunities (2) (1) (2).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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DRAFT NUMBER FOUR √+ =4 , √ = 15, √- = 22
CIRCLED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: To be the university for the people of Iowa (2) and the nation’s premier (1) comprehensive
university (2) (9), providing an integrated (1) education combining real-life experience (3) (1) and state of
the art curriculum (1) to best prepare our students for the challenges (2) of our dynamic world (5) (3).
Mission: As a leading comprehensive university (2) (4), the University of Northern Iowa provides a
broad range (3) of academic undergraduate (1) programs (3) taught at the highest standard of
excellence (2) (3), along with high quality graduate (4) education (5) (1) in specific areas of high need.
By integrating meaningful, high-impact experiences (4) in the form of research opportunities, public
service, internships (5), and hands-on activities in the classroom (1), UNI prepares students for any
challenge they face after graduation (2) (1). Our commitment extends to every student at UNI where
we collectively share the responsibility (2) and reward of advancing knowledge (3) and serving society
(3) (3).
UNDERLINED WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision: To be the university for the people of Iowa (1) and the nation’s premier (2) comprehensive (2)
university, providing an integrated (2) education (3) combining real-life experience (1) and state of the
art curriculum (2) to best prepare our students for the challenges (4) of our dynamic (2) world (3)
(1) (1).
Mission: As a leading comprehensive university, the University of Northern Iowa provides a broad range
of academic undergraduate programs (3) taught at the highest standard (1) of excellence (3), along with
high quality graduate education (2) (4) in specific areas (1) of high need (1). By integrating meaningful,
high-impact experiences in the form of research opportunities, public service, internships (1), and handson activities (1) in the classroom (1), UNI prepares students for any challenge they face after graduation.
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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Our commitment extends to every student at UNI (1) where we collectively share the responsibility and
reward of advancing knowledge (2) and serving society.
STRIKE THROUGH WORDS AND PHRASES
Vision (entire vision: 4): To be the university for the people of Iowa (7) (14) and the nation’s (4) premier
(3) (2) comprehensive university, providing an integrated education combining real-life (4) experience (1)
and state of the art (10) curriculum (2) to best prepare our students for the challenges (1) of our dynamic
world (1).
Mission (entire mission: 1): As a leading comprehensive university, the University of Northern Iowa
provides a broad range (1) of academic undergraduate (2) programs taught at the highest standard of
excellence (1) (2), along with high quality graduate education in specific areas of high need (11) (2). By
integrating meaningful (1), high-impact (4) experiences in the form of research opportunities, public
service, internships, and hands-on activities (5) in the classroom (1) (3), UNI prepares students for any
challenge they face (6) after graduation (3). Our commitment extends to every student at UNI (2) where
we collectively share the responsibility and reward of advancing knowledge and serving society (2).
Academic Master Plan Steering Committee – Revised Draft Statements
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