Purpose and Mission

Universities communicate their purpose and values through mission statements and strategic plans, emphasizing education, knowledge creation, and social purpose. Typically not stated explicitly, universities must also generate revenues to pay the cost of their operations and to subsidize their social purpose mission. Universities struggle when lines are blurred between revenue generation and social purpose, confusing the role and mission of universities with that of private companies. In doing so, they do not just compete with private industry for revenue. They compete for trustTrust. Tec de Monterrey is provided as an example of how a visionary leader has balanced these aims, achieving dramatic changes at a university through experiential and community-engaged learning.