Higher education institutions were founded for various reasons. There are, however, certain sectors that have very specific missions connected to their foundation and continue to be central to their current operations. Institutions that fall into this category include minority-serving institutions, hard of hearing and deaf institutions, and single-gendered colleges. These institutions play a valuable role in providing access to higher education within the United States. Furthermore, the ways in which they serve are inextricably tied to their mission and the populations which they serve. This being the case, the leadership of these institutions must understand the importance of the mission and the identity of these institutions.

As the leaders of special mission colleges seek to build upon the legacies of these institutions, they facilitate conversations regarding ...