Measuring Staff Perceptions of University Identity and Activities: The Mission and Values Inventory

Abstract

Higher education institutions need to ascertain whether their stakeholders understand the school's mission, vision, and values. In the present study, the psychometric properties of a mission identity and activity measure were investigated with two staff samples. Using a principal component factor analysis (varimax rotation), respondents in Sample 1 (n = 178) indicated that the institution's identity was reflective of an inclusive and innovative (10 items) university—taking risks on new programs while retaining its urban identity and tradition of respect, understanding, and personalism—and a sense of Catholic pluralism (6 items)—retaining a Catholic university identity where other faiths are included and freely expressed. University mission-driven activities and programs reflected urban/global engagement opportunities (8 items), including community-based service learning courses, study abroad programs, and international students on campus; specific institutional religious heritage (9 items), like lunch-time speaker series, hosting writers who speak on the Catholic heritage of the university, and travel programs highlighting the university's heritage; and, Catholic and other faith-formation opportunities (6 items), including worship and sacrament events, interfaith and non-Catholic opportunities, spiritual education programs. Sample 2 staff (n = 361), using a confirmatory factor analysis, yield the same factor structure. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Funding for this project was made possible in part through a DePaul University Office of Mission and Values grant. Portions of this paper were presented at the 2005 Institute on College Student Values. Thanks to Cordelia Holbert, Mike Sipatelli, and Kevin Collins for data collection; to Shaun Cowman for assistance with data analysis; and especially to Fr. Edward Udovic and Thomas Drexler, who provided financial support and consultation on this project.

Notes

∗All items rated on a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree).

∗∗All items rated on a 4-point scale (1 = unimportant; 4 = very important)