INSTITUTIONAL MISSION: THE SOUL OF CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

Institutions and individuals function best with a sense of purpose-a reason for existence. When designed and communicated effectively, the mission statement has the power to transform people's values, motivations, and actions into a positive outcome. To investigate the role of institutional mission in Christian higher education, a review of the literature resulted in the identification of nine essential components of effective mission statements. Using the World Wide Web, a content analysis was then conducted of the 105 member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to assess the incorporation of these components into their own mission statements. The analysis resulted in a variety of research findings and observations relevant to the Christian higher education community.