Mission

Our mission remains the same:

Mississippi State University is a public research, land-grant university with a mission to provide access and opportunity to all sectors of Mississippi’s diverse population, as well as other states and countries, and to offer excellent programs of teaching, research, and service.

Mississippi State University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across many disciplines.

The university embraces its role as a major contributor to the economic development of the state and beyond through targeted research and the transfer of ideas and technology to the public, supported by faculty, staff, student, and alumni relationships with industry, community organizations, and government entities.

Mississippi State University is committed to its tradition of instilling among its community ideals of diversity, citizenship, leadership, and service.

Building on its land-grant tradition, Mississippi State University strategically extends its resources and expertise for the benefit of Mississippi's citizens, the nation, and the world by offering access for working and place-bound learners through its on- and off-campus education and research sites, Extension, and distance education programs.

The Transforming MSU strategic plan charts a new vision for Mississippi State University as we redefine our role in solving some of the world’s most critical challenges.  Details of the plan are below.

Our North Star Vision

At Mississippi State, we’re redefining the role of a land-grant university. We provide an innovative, hands-on learning experience, ​meeting all students where they are and equipping them for a world that needs their talent.  We’re working to help our communities prosper while exploring cutting-edge solutions to the world’s biggest challenges.

Together, we’re taking care of what matters in the 21st century – starting in our own backyard.

Pillars

We have developed five key pillars to guide the collaboration and collective action that will support our university’s transformation. Each pillar represents an essential focus area of our transformation roadmap, which summarizes the strategic goals of Transforming MSU.

Serve the Whole Student

Help students thrive through innovative academic programs and memorable experiences while ensuring a holistic focus on student well-being.

• Goal: Provide a supportive, vibrant campus environment that allows students to enjoy meaningful learning, research, and service activities during their MSU experience
• Goal: Prepare all of our students with the tools to live healthy and productive lives.
• Goal: Incorporate new academic content and teaching methods that enable students to use their knowledge and to lead fulfilling careers.
• Goal: Help student achieve their academic goals by providing services that enable them to graduate on-time and with distinction. 
• Goal: Expand experiential learning opportunities for students so that we may instill a hunger for lifelong learning in all of our graduates.

Strengthen Our Bonds

Grow and nurture relationships that further enhance our vibrant community.

• Goal: Increase opportunities for employee development and advancement.
• Goal: Deepen the bonds we have with alumni to support their connection to MSU and the value of the degree they have earned.
• Goal: Expand partnerships with industry and employers to create new opportunities for students and ensure the education they are receiving is relevant for tomorrow’s workplace.
• Goal: Build and enhance our networks with community and government leaders and with peer organizations to create pathways for mutually beneficial goals.
• Goal: Grow fan affinity and engagement through innovative experiences on and off campus.

Ignite Innovation

Foster life-changing research and creative endeavors to advance our society.

• Goal: Grow recognition for MSU’s role in completing life-changing research in areas that matter to our state, region, and world.
• Goal: Expand programs for faculty and staff researchers so that they have the support they need to be successful.
• Goal: Renew our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in all forms, especially in developing a strong workforce for Mississippi and communities like ours.
• Goal: Double down in our research and scholarly activity that promotes solutions in areas that matter like community health, child and youth development, and sustainability and resiliency.

Elevate Our Community

Serve our communities with the knowledge and experience that address critical challenges and unique opportunities.

• Goal: Expand outreach activities that allow us to apply the life-changing solutions evident in our research.
• Goal: Expand opportunities for service learning to inspire a continued commitment to serving our communities as MSU students, alumni, faculty and staff.
• Goal: Create more “on-ramps” for members of our communities to receive the knowledge and skills they desire through micro-credentials and stackable credentials.
• Goal: Grow capacity in communities that fosters economic development and social mobility.

Tell Our Story

Grow awareness and shape the perception of MSU by amplifying the stories, impacts, and excitement of our community.

• Goal: Grow our brand recognition beyond Mississippi and the southeast region
• Goal: Engage more individuals in experiencing all that MSU has to offer through our teaching, research, and outreach missions
• Goal: Celebrate the real value of MSU’s efforts in Mississippi and communities like ours

Operational Framework

Our new strategy for carrying out the North Star vision also calls for new ways of working. We have four core objectives for how the way we work will continue to evolve in order to deliver the strategic goals in the pillars.

We will focus on the university’s:

Culture

Nurture a sense of belonging, support innovation across teams, and respect diversity of people and perspectives

Resources

Align the right skills, talents, and financial resources to empower our people and advance our vision

Infrastructure

Advance the physical environment and technological systems that enable our growth

Methods

Improve operational processes and create new opportunities and make informed, forward-looking decisions

Initiatives

Outlined below are several examples of the initiatives and programs that we have already defined as essential for our future, and more will be added as we gain feedback and ideas from across campus.

• Bulldog Experience
• Bulldog Mentoring Program
• Campus Master Plan
• College of Interdisciplinary Studies
• Communicators’ Brand Hub
• Employee Development Program
• General Education revitalization
• Meridian Health Sciences (Physician’s Assistant, Nursing, and Healthcare Administration programs)
• New approach for outreach & engagement
• New internal collaboration opportunities for faculty
• Strategic Enrollment Plan
• Support for entrepreneurship and technology commercialization