Mission and Vision 101
Guided by Berklee’s fundamental values, the development of Berklee-wide mission and vision statements will define our institution’s core purpose while reimagining the impact we will have on our students, our communities, and the world. Together, these statements will guide the development of our strategic plan, which will chart a course to achieving Berklee’s visionary impact. Below, you may review some of the materials created by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee that helped create shared foundational knowledge within our community about mission and vision development.
The development of our mission, vision, and strategic direction are guided by Berklee’s fundamental values—how we show up when we’re at our best. As you engage in community activities to develop mission and vision statements, please approach this work through the lens of these values:
- We respect the rights, dignity, and creative expression for all.
- We have the courage to be authentic.
- We care for each other and for the well-being of our community.
- We expect honesty and integrity in all interactions.
- We take responsibility for our actions.
- We learn from the past to create the future.
Foundations for Creating a Mission and Vision
Watch this video to learn what a mission and vision are:
What is a mission?
A mission addresses these questions:
- What do we do?
- What is our core purpose?
- What are we known for?
A mission is defined by these characteristics:
- Inspiring and motivational
- Broad in scope
- Resonant declaration of attitude
- Memorable
What is a vision?
A vision describes our aspirations for how we will impact our students, our communities, and the world.
A vision is defined by these characteristics:
- Unique
- Short (typically one sentence)
- Clear
- Sets a standard of excellence
- Future-focused
- Aspirational
- Inspires passion and emotion
- Creates an image that people carry in their heads