PARAMUS, N.J. – The Bergen Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a reform of the institution’s mission, vision and values statements at the Dec. 1 meeting of the governing panel. The new statements represent a stark contrast to the former, as the College sought to create focused prose that reflected top institutional goals. The mission statement evolved from a 71-word paragraph to a nine-word statement; the vision statement went from 94 words to 19.

“Mission and vision statements often become clunky or overly verbose with little focus on the real overriding objectives of the organization or institution,” Bergen President B. Kaye Walter, Ph.D., said. “As we evaluated our own statements, the faculty and staff participating in working groups agreed – cautioning against uninspired, rambling or jargoned statements. Through their recommendations and dedication to crafting focused, concise and purposeful statements, these individuals have strengthened the message Bergen conveys to our community.”

Approximately two-dozen faculty and staff participated in a collaborative process of meetings, writing sessions and focus groups sponsored by the College’s Center for Institutional Effectiveness to develop the revised statements. Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness Yun Kim, Ph.D., led the initiative, which sought to revise the statements for the first time since 2009.

The new statements are:

*To inspire our community to realize a better future. (Mission)

*Bergen Community College will be a dynamic partner by bridging potential with opportunities for educational, professional and personal growth. (Vision)

*To fulfill the vision and mission of Bergen Community College, these core values will guide our daily endeavors: learning; excellence; integrity; respect; and creativity. (Values)

Bergen has experienced a period of unprecedented success during the past two years, as it has sought to inspire its community and create new opportunities for local residents.

The College has ranked No. 1 in New Jersey for associate degree graduates for two consecutive years; the institution ranks No. 26 in the nation. Bergen also enrolled one of the top 20 students in the nation last year and counts the 2015 New Jersey U.S. Professor of the Year among its faculty. Finally, and as a result of the College’s renewed emphasis on creating superior support student services and resources, its tutoring center received recognition as the best among two-year colleges in 2014.

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls 16,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.