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mission statement
Mission Statement
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages is committed to excellence in teaching, community engagement, research, and creative work in modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures. It provides high quality instruction in languages and literatures as well as in Foreign Language Education, and equips students with the foreign language skills and dispositions necessary for graduate studies and careers in education, business, government, health care, law enforcement, and social services. The Department also offers exciting opportunities for service learning, study and work abroad, and cross-disciplinary collaboration within the university and the region as well as in the world abroad.
Guiding Principles
To achieve its Mission the faculty and staff of the VSU Modern and Classical Languages Department commit themselves to the following principles:
We adhere to:
The principles articulated in the Core Mission for Regional Universities in the University System of Georgia, as cited below:
The Mission and Principles of Valdosta State University, as articulated in its catalog;
The Conceptual Framework of the College of Education of VSU based on the adapted INTASC and NBPTS Principles for Advanced Teacher Certification principles;
The Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century.
We believe that:
The use of technology such as Web CT, FLED majors electronic portfolios, web pages, and "smart classrooms" not only enriches the curriculum but also makes its delivery more effective and efficient, and, as such, should be incorporated as an integral part of our teaching;
Our Department should serve as a model and a resource for the improvement of service learning and teacher training in the region of South Georgia;
Through the promotion and study of modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures we can improve the quality of life and raise the educational level and cultural awareness of all persons within the university scope of influence;
We have a professional obligation to promote high levels of student achievement, offer quality academic assistance, and provide a stimulating and exciting teaching/learning environment for our students and for the community that we serve;
Research, scholarly and creative work are essential components of the work of our faculty, and, as such, strongly encourage and actively support such pursuits;
Community engagement enriches the student's experience and benefits the community, and should, therefore, be part of the mandate of the Department.