Vision Statement

Transforming lives through learning.

Mission Statement

Mohawk Valley Community College provides accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students. We are the community's college, committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment.

Values & Credo Statement

MVCC holds the values of civility, equity, and community in the highest regard. To that end, members of the MVCC community will;

• Model the Way
• Inspire Confidence
• Encourage Excellence
• Embrace Community

Each member of the MVCC community commits to:

1. Making every interaction an opportunity to engage in building trust and creating positive relationships.
2. Recognizing that everyone deserves the courtesy of their respect and undivided attention.
3. Fostering a culture of inclusion and excellence.
4. Making teamwork and clear communication essential to our success.

And Strives To:

1. Be the best version of their self every day and assist anyone who needs help.
2. Listen to others and respond with truth and tactful candor.
3. Communicate effectively and give others the benefit of the doubt.
4. Foster an environment of shared responsibility by holding themselves and others accountable for our individual and collective work.

Equity Statement

Equity: MVCC is committed to ensuring that underserved students receive what they need to be successful, through the intentional design of the college experience, in order to close existing opportunity gaps.

Anti-Racism Statement

MVCC recognizes that this institution was founded in a time and place in which racism was embedded into every aspect of society. MVCC was built upon the traditional ground of the Haudenosaunee people of the Oneida Nation. Enslaved people were not fully emancipated in New York until 1827, and the Utica-New Hartford school border remains one of the most segregated in the country. We acknowledge that while the intent of current MVCC employees is to provide “accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students,” our existing institutional structures are rooted in racist policies and white privilege and have inherent systemic biases, in that they produce or sustain racial inequities, or situations where racial groups are not standing on equal footing.

With this understanding, MVCC will prioritize time and resources toward 1) self-examination of implicit unconscious, institutional, and systemic biases to clarify areas in which there are inequitable policies, practices, and procedures, and 2) implementing strategies with the goal of eradicating these biases in our curriculum, classrooms, offices, policies, practices, procedures, and decision-making. These strategies will include, but are not limited to:

• Denouncing racism and inequity in all aspects of the College and the communities we serve.
• Taking a strong public position against racism and inequity while working to build community systems for equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
• Relentlessly pursuing and rooting out systemic biases, with the willingness to get uncomfortable and make mistakes during the process.
• Pushing ourselves to create environments and strategies that acknowledge opportunity gaps and increase completion rates for student success by offering inclusive and equitable experiences for students and implementing innovative and unconventional tactics that create systems of inclusivity and increase student success.
• Delivering high quality academic and training experiences that include partnering with employers to build equitable hiring outcomes and income equity.
• Ensuring that our college community policing practices are welcoming, bias-free, and serve to reduce racial stress for students and employees through continuous reflection, education, and improvement.
• Recruiting and hiring faculty, staff, and administrators who reflect the racial composition of our community and also indicate a commitment to antiracism and racial justice with the aim of creating an environment that prepares students to live and work successfully in a diverse and inclusive world.
• Providing avenues for difficult conversations to occur that seek to bring about understanding and substantive change.
• Tracking our successes and failure with disaggregated data based on race that drive curriculum improvement and institutional changes leading to equitable and inclusive outcomes.
• Considering intersectionality, how not only race but other factors of identity, including but not limited to gender, social class, ability, language, LGBTQ+ identification, and religion, are also factors in institutional inequities and including these as part of policy and procedure considerations.

Inclusivity Statement

MVCC is committed to establishing and maintaining an inclusive culture that fosters equity across dimensions of diversity including but not limited to:

• Age, marital/parental status, veteran status
• Race, color, national origin, creed, ethnicity, geographical location, immigration status
• Sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation/attraction
• Social class, background, economic circumstances
• Religion, political beliefs, culture
• Physical and/or mental abilities

We are committed to ensuring that underserved students receive what they need to be successful, through the intentional design of the college experience, in order to close existing opportunity gaps. To that end, MVCC is firm in its commitment to value, respect and embrace the richness of a diverse community where everyone feels respected and valued for being who they are, trust that they can speak up and be treated fairly; and feel a true sense of belonging.

Guidelines for Ethical and Secure Usage of Generative Artificial Intelligence at MVCC

The MVCC AI Taskforce has developed these guidelines to ensure the ethical and secure usage of generative AI tools within our college community. The primary goal of this initiative is to provide a high-level overview of best practices for using generative AI responsibly and securely. By adhering to these guidelines, we aim to enhance our digital presence while maintaining the integrity, privacy, and fairness of our AI-generated content. The guidelines emphasize transparency and disclosure, data privacy and security, accuracy and accountability, ethical use, inclusivity and fairness, and ongoing learning and adaptation. By following these guidelines, we can ensure that the use of generative AI at MVCC is ethical, secure, and enhances our academic and professional communities responsibly.

Commitment to our Mission and Vision

These guidelines were developed in alignment with the College’s Mission and Vision and reflect our commitment to provide accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence designed to create content—such as text, images, audio, or video—based on the data it has been trained on. These tools can assist with brainstorming, drafting, and even creating visual or audio materials, but they should be used thoughtfully to ensure accuracy, privacy, and fairness.

General Principles

Disclaimer: Generative AI is a rapidly evolving technology. The guidance provided below reflects our current understanding and best practices; however, as this technology develops, these guidelines are subject to change. Please stay informed and consult updated resources as needed.

1. Transparency and Disclosure
   • Be Clear: Clearly indicate when content has been generated with the help of AI.
   • Cite Appropriately: Provide proper citation for AI contributions as necessary.
2. Data Privacy and Security
   • Protect Sensitive Information: Avoid sharing confidential, personal, or sensitive data with AI tools.
   • Keep Data Secure: Treat AI-generated content with the same care as any other digital information that may contain sensitive elements as outlined in the Information Security Policy.
3. Accuracy and Accountability
   • Verify Information: Always fact-check AI outputs before using or sharing them.
   • Accountability: Even if AI assists in generating content, the ultimate responsibility for the final output lies with you. This includes ensuring accuracy, ethical considerations, and alignment with your goals.
4. Ethical Use
   • Use Caution: Ensure that AI is used in ways that do not promote misinformation, bias, or harmful content.
   • Respect Intellectual Property: Use AI-generated content in compliance with current copyright and licensing laws.
5. 5. Inclusivity and Fairness
   • Promote Fairness: Use AI tools in ways that support diverse perspectives and do not inadvertently reinforce stereotypes or biases.
   • Support Learning: Use these tools as a supplement to, not a replacement for, genuine intellectual effort. For additional details, refer the Academic Integrity Policy.
6. Continuous Learning
   • Stay Informed: Keep up to date with evolving best practices and ethical guidelines as AI technologies continue to develop.
   • Reach Out: Need assistance? Contact Information Technology at helpdesk@mvcc.edu or call 315-731-5711.

Additional Guidance for Students

• Check with Instructors: Before using generative AI for assignments, projects, or any academic work, confirm with your individual instructor(s) that such use is allowed, acceptable, and aligns with course policies.
• Academic Integrity: Ensure that your use of AI tools does not compromise your learning process or violate Academic Integrity Policy.

Guidance for Faculty and Staff

• Include a Syllabus Statement: Faculty are strongly encouraged to include a clear statement in their syllabus regarding the use of AI. This statement should specify whether AI tools are permitted or prohibited in their courses. If AI is permitted, this statement should:
  • Define what constitutes acceptable use of generative AI tools.
  • Clarify any restrictions or expectations regarding the integration of AI-generated content in assignments and projects.
  • Provide contact information for questions or further guidance on AI usage.
• Model Best Practices: Faculty and staff should lead by example by adhering to these guidelines in their own work and communications.

By adhering to these guidelines, we can ensure that the use of generative AI at MVCC is ethical, secure, and enhances our academic and professional communities responsibly.