Our mission at Southern Polytechnic State University is to provide the residents of Georgia with university-level education in technology, engineering technology, arts and sciences, architecture, management, and related fields.

Our history continues to be one of rapid change and adaptation. Founded in 1948 as a unit of the Georgia Institute of Technology at the request of the Georgia Business and Industry Association, The Institute, as we were first called, provided technical training in support of Georgia industry. Our mission quickly evolved to include offering associate degrees. In 1970, as Southern Technical Institute, we became one of the first colleges in the nation to offer baccalaureate degrees in engineering technology. In 1980, we became a separate senior college in the University System of Georgia. Six years later, we began offering graduate programs and changed our name to Southern College of Technology. Meeting needs articulated by our professional advisory boards, alumni, faculty, and students, we continue to evolve, improve, and broaden our degree offerings in the technological arena.

We produce academically and technically proficient graduates for the economic development of the state, region, and nation, and we seek international opportunities to participate in the teaching and transfer of technology.

To achieve our mission, we offer a flexible schedule of day and evening classes for programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels to the highly motivated students we seek to recruit and retain. We offer both degree and non-degree programs, provide opportunities for cooperative education, and engage in collaborative efforts with other institutions. We enroll a significant number of working professionals as part-time students, as well as a large number of traditional college-age students. We welcome academically prepared transfer students from community/junior colleges, technical institutes, senior colleges and universities, who are seeking a high quality technical education.

All of our programs include a strong general education course of study that integrates science, technology, and liberal arts. Our growing graduate programs introduce students to research that is industrially, technically, or applications focused.

The faculty strives for excellence in teaching and service, providing a laboratory-centered and/or professionally oriented education that fosters problem solving, ethical awareness, and a desire for lifelong learning.

At Southern Polytechnic State University, we encourage continual improvement throughout the campus and assume statewide leadership in the study and teaching of the process of continual improvement. We offer opportunities for professional development, and we work to achieve an international outlook.

We serve our community through partnerships with industry, professional organizations, government, schools, and through continuing education and public service programs. We promote activities which increase public awareness of science, technology and related fields.

In rising to the technological, scientific, and humanitarian challenges of the future, we aspire to broaden our offerings by including programs in engineering, in new and emerging sciences and technologies, and in additional technically related fields. We will enhance our reputation as a university where imagination, innovation, and application are integrated to provide leadership into the future.

Southern Polytechnic State University shares with the other colleges and universities of the University System of Georgia the following core characteristics or purposes:

a supportive campus climate, necessary services, and leadership and development opportunities, all to educate the whole person and meet and needs of students, faculty and staff;

cultural ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in the faculty, staff, and student body, supported by practices and programs that embody the ideals of an open, democratic, and global society;

technology to advance educational purposes, including instructional technology, student support services, and distance education;

collaborative relationships with other System institutions, State agencies, local schools and technical institutes, and business and industry, sharing physical, human, information, and other resources to expand and enhance programs and services available to the citizens of Georgia.

a commitment to excellence and responsiveness within a scope of influence defined by the needs of an area of the state, and by particularly outstanding programs or distinctive characteristics that have a magnet effect throughout the region or state;

a commitment to teaching/learning environment, both inside and outside the classroom, that sustains instructional excellence, serves a diverse and university-prepared student body, promotes high levels of student achievement, offers academic assistance, and provides developmental studies programs for a limited student cohort;

a high quality general education program supporting a variety of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and professional academic programming at the baccalaureate level, with selected master's and educational specialist degrees, and selected associate degree programs based on area need and/or inter-institutional collaborations;

a commitment to public service, continuing education, technical assistance, and economic development activities that address the needs, improve the quality of life, and raise the education level within the university's scope of influence;

a commitment to scholarly and creative work to enhance instructional effectiveness and to encourage faculty scholarly pursuits, and a commitment to applied research in selected areas of institutional strength and area need.