Home - Dean's Welcome - Mission Statement

 A university is a place where "mind clashes with mind"
-John Henry Newman

The college is a community of individuals who share a dedication to the life of the mind. Its fundamental purpose is to invigorate the intellectual lives of its students, faculty, and staff, and to promote an intellectual orientation in the larger communities it serves. In this spirit, the college challenges everyone to confront new and disturbing ideas with open minds and to reexamine old ideas with fresh eyes.

Within the university, the mission of this college is to pursue disciplined inquiry into ideas and values that grow out of human experience, as well as the forces that shape human behavior and interaction. Since these areas of study--together with the natural sciences and the fine arts--are fundamental to the liberal arts, the college plays a crucial role in liberal arts education.

The college also teaches students to apply their knowledge to the resolution of human problems in the world at large, thereby preparing them for professions in which they will contribute to the well-being of others.

Goals

In order to fulfill all of these purposes, the college shall:

• provide high quality academic programs that develop the understandings and skills necessary for living in a complex and changing world;

• immerse the academic community in a multicultural and international environment;

• support programs of research and creative endeavors that add to our understanding of the human situation;

• share knowledge and skills with the larger community through service;

• attract and develop a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students;

• provide quality graduate programs whose graduates make important contributions to the discipline and to society.

The Role of the College in Liberal Arts Education

In order that students may become more thoughtful citizens in our diverse society and more active participants in our changing and interdependent world, the college will help them to develop:

• strong writing and speaking skills;

• abilities to think clearly and critically;

• abilities to use technology in support of life-long learning;

• familiarity with their intellectual and cultural heritages;

• an understanding of social, psychological, and political environments; and

• an appreciation of other peoples and cultures.