Mission and Conceptual Framework

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Minnesota State University, Mankato' s College of Education (COE) is to prepare principled professional practitioners who thrive and succeed in diverse environments, promote collaborative and generative communities, and engage in life-long learning.

Our mission states what we do, what our job is. We accept the responsibility to focus our work on helping children, youth, families, adults, and communities to succeed. We do this work together with schools, agencies, organizations, and other entities. One avenue that we employ is initial preparation of professionals - teachers, counselors, speech pathologists, administrators, and leaders. The COE also provides advanced preparation in the form of customized professional development, advanced degrees, certificate programs, collaboration, and partnership.

It is our vision to be important in terms of the success of our broad professional community, our region, and society. Our vision also includes the proclamation of our conceptual framework. In this statement, we express our "intellectual philosophy" - the specifics of what the faculty believe about good teaching and learning. Because the conceptual framework reflects the unique thoughts and beliefs of the faculty at Minnesota State Mankato, it reveals the specifics of how we relate to one another, how we see our programs, and how we hope our graduates will do their work. Further, it provides direction for the development of programs, courses, teaching practices, performance assessments of candidates, practices and policies regarding service and scholarship, and accountability systems. Simply put, the conceptual framework should be reflected in both what happens and how things are done in the unit as it works to reach its vision.

Proclamation of the Conceptual Framework:

Grounded in a vision of learning communities, the College of Education has at its heart collaboration and connectedness to students, schools, neighborhoods, and society. To achieve this vision, the College of Education seeks to graduate individuals with passion for and proficiency in content, with thoughtful and principled pedagogy, and a strong sense of educational purpose. College of Education graduates possess the attributes, knowledge, and skills to effectively promote the success of students, families, and schools. They see their own learning and the learning of others as occurring in a cycle of experience, reflection, and re-conceptualization—a process of seeking new knowledge that both fits into and changes existing understanding.  Furthermore, College of Education graduates understand that individuals are embedded in family, school, and community systems, and they seek to foster positive systems change as well as individual growth.

College of Education graduates value diverse cultures and communities, seeking to help all students achieve the knowledge and skills needed to flourish as successful members of a pluralistic society.  They work to form broad-based, inclusive learning communities which engage in respectful and relevant conversations that promote shared understandings.  College of Education graduates value multiple perspectives and use culturally relevant strategies in their work.   They guide and nurture individuals with whom they work to live and thrive in a diverse and open society.