As an institution, CSM's mission statement has remained steadfast since its inception. This mission, as written in the Colorado statutes, is as follows:

The Colorado School of Mines shall be a specialized baccalaureate and graduate research institution with high admission standards. The Colorado School of Mines shall have a unique mission in energy, mineral, and materials science and engineering and associated engineering and science fields. The school shall be the primary institution of higher education offering energy, mineral and materials science and mineral engineering degrees at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. (CRS, Section 23-41-105)

Over its long and illustrious history, the translation of the school's mission into educational programs has been heavily influenced by the needs of its constituencies and that of society. This commitment led the CSM Board of Trustees to expound upon the school's mission statement in 2000 to read:

The Colorado School of Mines is dedicated to educating students and professionals in the applied sciences, engineering, and associated fields relating to

1. The discovery and recovery of the Earth's resources,
2. Their conversion to materials and energy,
3. Their utilization in advanced processes and products, and
4. The economic and social systems necessary to ensure their prudent and provident use in a sustainable global society.

This mission is achieved by the creation, integration and exchange of knowledge in engineering, the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, business, and their union, to create processes and products to enhance the quality of life of the world's inhabitants. The Colorado School of Mines is consequently committed to serving the people of Colorado, the nation, and the global community by promoting stewardship of the Earth upon which all life and development depend. (CSM Board of Trustees, 2000)

Institutional Strategic Goals

As clearly stated in the CSM Strategic Plan 2004-2014, undergraduate education is the "bedrock" of CSM and is a core strategic priority for the institution. The following is an excerpt taken from this strategic plan that specifically addresses the goals and objectives of the school with regard to undergraduate education:

"Generations of Mines alumni have pointed to the School's balanced undergraduate curriculum with its emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking as a highly valuable aspect of their education. These qualities are among the hallmarks of a Mines undergraduate education. In addition, the School has become a major national center for engineering education research. As this ongoing research inspires the School's excellence in teaching, the Mines undergraduate curriculum will continue to be distinctive and exemplary among science and engineering institutions.

This strategy also focuses on enriching the undergraduate experience to better cultivate qualities of leadership and citizenship. The School recognized that science and engineering education has a growing relevance in our modern society, as matters of science and technology are increasingly entwined with complex social, economic, and political issues. As a result, Mines will seek to prepare graduates for success in an increasingly wide range of career paths in which they can make important contributions to society within a world market of peer professionals. This will be accomplished by augmenting the undergraduate experience through additional curricular and extra-curricular offerings. By further enriching Mines' undergraduate learning environment in these ways, the School will strengthen its competitive advantage in student recruitment, retention, and placement, while magnifying its contribution to the advancement of engineering and science education nationally and internationally."

Institutional Goals for Undergraduate Education

Goal #1: Strengthen and market undergraduate programs in ways that build on two longstanding and distinctive qualities of a Mines education: providing students with a real world context for their major discipline, and cultivating strong leadership and citizenship qualities.

Goal #2: Continue to develop curricula in ways that support the versatility and relevance of engineering education, its societal context and its international scope, and in ways that are informed by leading research in science and engineering education.

Goal #3: Increase opportunities for students to gain leadership and citizenship experiences through student government activities, study abroad, fraternity and sorority leadership activities, intercollegiate athletics, and professional society activities.

Goal #4: Develop additional career pathway programming for undergraduate students through undergraduate research, public policy and service, entrepreneurship, engineering and technology management, and other avenues.

Goal #5: Enrich the quality of student life through enhanced activities, programs, and facilities.

Goal #6: Elevate the School's competitive profile as a high-value, top choice for science and engineering students, as reflected in various national rankings, numbers of applications, enrollment yield, and retention.

Departmental Strategic Goals & Objectives

From the perspective of undergraduate education, the ultimate goal of the Mining Engineering Department is to provide graduates with the skills, academic experience, and education necessary to prepare them to excel as professionals in the highly diverse industries of mining and underground construction and to provide the foundation for these graduates to someday assume positions of leadership within these industries.

The program objectives have experienced some minor changes over the last 10 year period, owing to a broadening emphasis that includes underground construction and tunneling as well as efforts to meet the diverse technical demands of today's mining industry. Great effort has been made throughout the educational process to provide students with a program of substantial depth and breadth that is predicated on fundamentals and applied problem-solving. These efforts have culminated in a careful blend of mathematics and basic sciences, engineering and design, and humanities, social sciences, and economics, to achieve a well-rounded, hands-on, and interdisciplinary academic experience.

The Department recognizes the high expectations that industry has for our graduates as well as the responsibility we have to prepare our students for successful professional careers. To be successful, it is imperative that mining graduates possess an ever-growing set of technical skills, knowledge, and expertise. Beyond the technical aspects of basic sciences, engineering fundamentals, and problem-solving, mining engineering graduates must also acquire a host of other skills which are essential in today's global economy.

These include:

1. The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and communicate effectively to different types of audiences,
2. An appreciation of the social, political, and economic realities of different cultures, countries, and indigenous peoples,
3. An understanding of the global role mineral extraction and resource development have on local, regional, and international levels,
4. The desire for continuing and life-long education, intellectual and professional development, analysis, and creativity,
5. The need to maintain high professional and ethical standards,
6. The importance of self-confidence, conviction, and compassion, and
7. The skills critical to leadership and supervision.

Put simply, our vision for the Mining Engineering Department is to be internationally recognized as the World's premiere center for education and applied research in the diverse fields of mining and underground construction and tunneling. This vision spans across numerous interdisciplinary areas of study. Through collaborations with other CSM departments, academic institutions, government agencies, and industry, we are committed to expanding the international reputation of the Department for excellence in education, research, industry service, and community outreach.

Educational Objectives

To achieve this vision, the Mining Engineering Department has established the following educational objectives for undergraduate students:

Objective #1: Develop knowledge and experience in the application of engineering principles required for the safe, economically efficient and responsible exploitation of earth's resources and construction of earth (rock) systems in an applied setting.

Objective #2: Impart an ability to solve complex mining and earth system related problems.

Objective #3: Create a capability for team work and decision-making.

Objective #4: Instill a desire for continued education, intellectual and professional development, analysis and creativity.

Objective #5: Generate self-confidence and the asset of being articulate with high professional and ethical standards.

Objective #6: Develop sound knowledge in the required basic sciences and engineering fundamentals.

Objective #7: Develop an appreciation of the global role of minerals in the changing World.

These objectives are fully consistent with the institutional goals, strategic objectives, and mission of the Colorado School of Mines and satisfies the requirements as specified under ABET Criteria.