Mission Statement

A Statement of Mission and Goals

West Chester University is a community of educators that develops graduates to succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

WCU GRADUATES WILL:

  • Apply scientific reasoning and demonstrate quantitative and qualitative literacy
  • Collaborate with others to solve problems and address societal needs
  • Communicate effectively and participate in civic discourse
  • Engage inclusively in a diverse society
  • Understand the ethical implications of decisions and the world in which they live

INSTITUTIONAL GOALS:

To fulfill its mission as a public institution serving the Commonwealth, West Chester University will focus on student success and institutional improvement as measured by the degree to which WCU demonstrates:

  • Access to learning
  • Community and cultural engagement
  • Continuous improvement
  • Critical thinking
  • Inclusion
  • Scholarly and creative activities
  • Sustainability

Current Mission

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, regional, comprehensive institution committed to providing access and offering high-quality undergraduate education, select post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Components of the Toolkit (the President's vision)

  • Critical thinking (including scientific reasoning and quantitative literacy)
  • Responding thoughtfully to diversity
  • Effective communication
  • Civic discourse
  • Ethical decision making
  • Global awareness
  • Community engagement

Key Definitions

  • Critical thinking: procedural and conceptual, includes scientific reasoning, quantitative literacy and information literacy
  • Responding thoughtfully to diversity: understanding the perspectives of historically marginalized groups and understanding the causes of structural inequality
  • Effective communication: oral, written, visual, and digital, includes information literacy
  • Civic discourse: civic discourse is the hallmark of our democracy. It requires engaging with one another on the issues we face, learning from one another, sharing our stories and acting as an informed citizens in the midst of an increasingly diverse array of perspectives, recognizing that many people are confident that the position they stake out is the only one
  • Ethical decision making: understanding the implications and consequences of decisions and identifying other perspectives
  • Global awareness: students understanding the links between their own lives and those of people throughout the world, increasing their understanding of economic, cultural, political and environmental influences in a way that is thoroughly integrated into their framework for problem solving and decision making (modified from UNESCO and AAC&U)
  • Community engagement: partnerships and service learning opportunities that prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good (modified from Carnegie)

Sample Mission Revision (First Draft)

WCU's dedicated faculty and staff are committed to preparing students who can think critically, work in teams to solve problems, and respond thoughtfully to diversity while understanding the social and global contexts of their lives.

WCU graduates will be able to:

  • communicate effectively with a clear understanding of civic discourse
  • employ scientific reasoning and quantitative literacy
  • understand the ethical implications of the decisions they make
  • engage with their communities in ways that address critical societal issues and contribute to the public good

WCU Mission Statement - May 1, 2017 (Second Draft)

West Chester University is a community of educators that develops graduates to succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

WCU graduates will:

  • Communicate effectively and practice civil discourse
  • Collaborate with others to solve problems and address societal needs
  • Apply scientific reasoning and quantitative literacy
  • Understand the ethical implications of decisions and world in which they live
  • Respond thoughtfully to diversity

Institutional Goals:

To fulfill its Mission and serve the Commonwealth, West Chester University will focus on student learning and institutional improvement as measured by the degree to which WCU demonstrates:

  • Access to learning
  • Continuous improvement
  • Critical thinking
  • Inclusion
  • Scholarly and creative activities
  • Student success
  • Sustainability
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