Strategic Directions of the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis   Values As part of the University of Missouri-Columbia we honor the public trust placed in our institution and accept our responsibility to be effective stewards of that trust. As a part of MU Extension we acknowledge our land-grant legacy and our duty to acquire, create, transmit and preserve knowledge and to promote understanding. We embrace MU's values of Respect, Responsibility, Discovery and Excellence. In particular we foster: Accessibility -- Public data and information should be readily accessible. Collaboration -- Collaborative engagement is essential in the meaningful construction of information and knowledge. Trust -- Trustworthy relationships and information are essential for sound policy development and decision-making. Excellence -- Our users deserve excellence. Excellence is achieved through the diligent individual and collaborative efforts of a skilled and experienced team of faculty and staff. Vision OSEDA enhances private and public decision-making--we help enlighten choices. Mission OSEDA collaborates with partners in the analysis of social and economic data in ways that contribute to improvements in the economic and social well-being of people and communities. Priority Issues Improving the quality of public education Improving state and local government services. Improving the health status of people Improving the social strength of communities Improving the capacity for economic development Strategies Publish analyses, develop web applications and make public presentations. Conduct collaborative research and demonstration initiatives regarding priority issues that have clear objectives, audiences, products, budgets, and timelines. Develop and sustain strong partnerships with state and local government. Focus on the needs of Missourians while encouraging a global perspective. Foster excellence in formative and summative evaluative research. Sustain and share a robust information technology infrastructure including data, data management systems, data analysis systems, and communication systems. Sustain a highly skilled staff and engage faculty from throughout the university.