Approved by the Board of Regents Friday, December 9, 2005
Coppin State University is a comprehensive, urban, institution offering programs in liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines. The University is committed to excellence in teaching, research and continuing service to its community. Coppin State University provides educational access and diverse opportunities for students with a high potential for success and for students whose promise may have been hindered by a lack of social, personal or financial opportunity. High quality academic programs offer innovative curricula and the latest advancements in technology prepare students for new workforce careers in a global economy. To promote achievement and competency, Coppin expects rigorous academic achievement and the highest standards of conduct with individual support, enrichment and accountability. By creating a common ground of intellectual commitment in a supportive learning community, Coppin educates and empowers a diverse student body to lead by the force of its ideas to become critical, creative and compassionate citizens of the community and leaders of the world, with a heart for lifelong learning and dedicated public service. Coppin State University applies its resources to meet urban needs, especially those of Baltimore City, wherever those applications mesh well with its academic programs.
Coppin State University is a comprehensive, urban, institution offering programs in liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines. The University is committed to excellence in teaching, research and continuing service to its community. Coppin State University provides educational access and diverse opportunities for students with a high potential for success and for students whose promise may have been hindered by a lack of social, personal or financial opportunity. High quality academic programs offer innovative curricula and the latest advancements in technology prepare students for new workforce careers in a global economy. To promote achievement and competency, Coppin expects rigorous academic achievement and the highest standards of conduct with individual support, enrichment and accountability. By creating a common ground of intellectual commitment in a supportive learning community, Coppin educates and empowers a diverse student body to lead by the force of its ideas to become critical, creative and compassionate citizens of the community and leaders of the world, with a heart for lifelong learning and dedicated public service. Coppin State University applies its resources to meet urban needs, especially those of Baltimore City, wherever those applications mesh well with its academic programs.
As a city normal school, Coppin State University had the highly focused mission of preparing teachers for public schools in a growing urban center. Founded in 1900 as a one-year training program, Coppin State University became a normal school in 1926 and a teachers college in 1930, grew into a comprehensive college in 1970, and in 1988 joined the University System of Maryland. The University's history and location allow it to perform a unique role that has not been performed by any other institution within the University System of Maryland. As an institution of higher learning and as a major public service provider, Coppin State University has produced exemplary role models and professional leadership. The University has been in the forefront of advancing academic excellence, social equality, and the dream of a brighter future for its students.
Named in honor of Fanny Jackson Coppin, an outstanding African-American educator, and dedicated to teaching, Coppin State University as a Historically Black Institution, fulfills a particularly important mission for the State of Maryland. Active participation in the community by faculty and students provides practical evidence of a public service emphasis. The University advances faculty who are evaluated by students and peers as excellent teachers; evidence of scholarly contributions and growth is expected. The faculty work in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Professional Studies, Honors, Nursing, Graduate Studies, and Continuing Education.
A Carnegie Master's (Comprehensive) Colleges and Universities I (MA I) institution, the University is committed to affording students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education access to high-quality academic programs, as evidenced by its continued commitment to maintaining accreditations by the National League for Nursing, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Council on Rehabilitation Education, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University is committed to meeting the educational needs of its urban population and improving the quality of life in its urban community. An institutional pioneer in urban education, Coppin State University is the first higher education institution in the State to assume responsibility for the restructuring and administration of a public elementary school. The University is the only higher education institution in the State to locate a public high school on its campus while serving as the operator. Actively engaged in pre-service and in-service teacher education programs, the University, responding to the Board of Regents directive, envisions even more involvement in the area of teacher preparation. The West Baltimore pre-K to 16 Urban Education Corridor Model for Change, known as the Urban Education Corridor, is one such initiative. In partnership with the Baltimore City Public School System, the Urban Education Corridor is a national model. The potential success of the Corridor will propel the University toward achieving national eminence in the area of preparing urban educators, particularly those in the Baltimore City School System. The University chose this particular academic focus because of its longstanding mission of service in urban education. Similarly, the University aspires to enhance its nursing programs. Over the next ten years, the University will expand the Nurse Managed Health Center and provide added health services to the Community. The Management Science Department has a program to support small business owners, a project to assist individuals with credit/debt related problems (Consumer Education Center), and a tax preparation program for those in the community that cannot afford to pay for the services.
By strengthening existing programs in the liberal arts and sciences, humanities, education and nursing, and adding new programs in allied health, science and technology, the University will be poised to address the critical shortages of teachers, nurses, and science and technology professionals across the State. The University is committed to enrolling a more diverse student body, and in compliance with State goals, to increasing the number of other-race students.
Building upon its legacy of affording access to higher education for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, the University plans to continue to offer enrichment bridge programs for students needing some developmental learning experiences. Equally important, the University will expand the recruitment of students for its honors program.
Through advanced technology and telecommunications, Coppin State University will continue to advance the understanding and use of emerging technologies by integrating technology into all teaching and learning practices, client, management and student services, and institutional advancement operations. The renovation of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings will secure a campus environment that fosters excellence in teaching, service, and research, and increased student enrollment and success. By refocusing and retooling fundraising capabilities, the University will increase private support for student scholarships and the retention of renowned faculty.
In order for the University to continue to maintain diversity across educational and campus climate experiences for students, faculty, and staff, collaborative relationships exist with other public and private institutions. Working with other System institutions, state agencies, local schools, and business and industry, the University continues to take the leading role in the economic revitalization of its immediate community. Coppin State University is an oasis for the educational, economic, recreational and cultural needs of the citizens of Baltimore and the State of Maryland by sharing access to its facilities and expertise in the academic disciplines, professional fields and the fine and performing arts.
In accordance with the 2004 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education, The USM in 2010 Revisited: Responding to the Challenges that Lie Ahead, and the Coppin State University in 2010: Nurturing Potential … Transforming Lives, the University will: