College of Business & Technology

CBT Mission and Vision Statements

The College of Business and Technology strives for quality and continuous improvement in all of its endeavors, and its actions and expectations are based on the fundamental values of Western Illinois University: academic excellence, educational opportunity, social responsibility, and personal growth. In an environment characterized by growing global economic forces, differences in organizational and cultural values, cultural diversity and changing technology, the CBT actively prepares students to make meaningful contributions to their professions and the larger society in which they work and live.

Mission

The College of Business & Technology prepares students for professional careers and life-long learning in a globalized economy. We provide an innovative and applied education in business and technology that fosters the highest level of academic standards, integrity and ethics among our constituents.

Vision

The College of Business & Technology will be a place of excellence for talented students, faculty and staff. We will foster excellence through innovative, technology focused programs. We will offer an array of learning opportunities for students. We will have dedicated faculty who are excellent teachers and recognized professionally for their work. We will engage in collaborative relationships with industry through joint technology development, sponsored programs and applied research. It will be a leading college in Illinois and beyond.

The College accomplishes its mission through the three key sustaining objectives that are central to the CBT’s vision and mission: 1) teaching, 2) research, and 3) service.

Teaching

The faculty strive to provide a quality educational experience within a comprehensive learning environment and develop students with:

  1. Intellectual curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning fostered by a strong college curriculum.
  2. A well-developed sense of justice, citizenship, and social responsibility.
  3. An understanding of global issues and an appreciation for diversity.
  4. Leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
  5. The ability to recognize, analyze, and solve conceptual and practical problems/issues.
  6. Superior written, oral, and listening skills.
  7. The ability to embrace technological advances important to their careers and lives.
  8. A working knowledge of the traditional business subjects.

Research

The College is to foster intellectual contributions. The focus is participation in intellectual activities that enable all faculty to maintain their professional competencies, contribute new ideas to their respective disciplines, and increase their effectiveness in the classroom. To accomplish this goal the faculty:

  1. Continue to engage in applied, basic, and pedagogical research. Consistent with our mission, emphasis is on applied and pedagogical research.
  2. Increase integration of research findings into course content.
  3. Expand involvement in instructional development through traditional and innovative techniques including new and revised curricula, projects, and cases.
  4. Enhance cooperation and communication (engagement) among faculty, students, and external agencies to foster the free exchange of ideas.
  5. Emphasize the impact of their research on the stakeholders of the College.

Service

The college is to apply the knowledge base, skills and expertise of the faculty to impact society. To meet this goal the College of Business and Technology shall:

  1. Continue to develop and maintain relationships with business and industry.
  2. Expand continuing education, professional development and training programs.
  3. Maintain involvement in professional organizations through active membership and positions of leadership.
  4. Actively participate in the University and larger community in which the College functions.