The Mission Statement of Alma College — Where do I fit in?
Every organization has a set of beliefs, principles and values that guide its operation. The Mission Statement is what results when those characteristics are solidified and made public in a coherent whole.
Creating the current mission statement for Alma College involved wide participation across all levels of our organization. Everyone is a stakeholder in this vision. Once created, our mission statement helps us determine the direction of the college, and forms the backbone of what we hope to accomplish--our mission.
The following information comes directly from the Alma College Catalog:
The Alma College Mission
Alma College's mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.
The Core Values
Student-centered education in a residential setting. All members of the community — faculty, staff and trustees — are committed to creating an institution of quality centered on the growth and development of undergraduate students. The purpose of the residential college experience is to better prepare students to enter seamlessly into lives in community, vocation, family and faith.
Disciplinary expertise within an interdisciplinary context of learning. The Alma Experience expects students to apply intellectual rigor to the exploration of a range of disciplines, building a broad foundation in the sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts and social sciences. This liberal arts education also prepares students to pursue advanced work, independent research and creative performances with the depth of understanding to excel in one's discipline and to perceive the connections among disciplines. The practical knowledge and skills of the liberal arts prepare students for lifelong learning and leadership within a wide array of settings.
Engaged learning. Because education takes place everywhere and all the time, it is important both to create an exciting residential learning environment and to extend opportunities for significant learning into the community and wider world. Active participation in learning, engaged citizenship, service-driven leadership and committed stewardship are fostered through research-based undergraduate scholarship as well as programs that support experiential, international and service-learning opportunities.
Ethical integrity, aesthetic appreciation, spiritual sensitivity. With knowledge comes obligation. To live a complete life that withstands the scrutiny of self and others, individuals must exhibit personal integrity, respect for the value of all humanity and sensitivity to the spiritual and material beauty of one's existence. We expect these principles to be modeled in the educational programs, work and daily interactions of all members of the College community.
Why should students understand, and care about, our mission statement?
As an enrolled student, you are a stakeholder in Alma College. The mission statement and core values articulate our vision and influence the curricular and co-curricular programs we have developed. These ideas form the heart of your Alma Experience and represent what we hope you will take away from your time at Alma. Simply put, these concepts surround your everyday life at the college.
Individuals can also have personal mission statements, which summarize how they will approach the world in terms of their values and goals. Constructing a personal mission statement is a challenge worth taking on, since clarifying your goals and objectives is a powerful motivating experience that connects diverse aspects of your life.
Not everyone is ready to take on this task at the same point in their college career, but when you are, you'll find excellent help on the internet. Search "personal mission statement" for examples and help on constructing one of your own.
Like the Alma College Mission Statement, a personal mission statement can help give your Alma Experience, and your life, new energy and focus. It can help you bridge the gap between your present and your future in a way that is both dynamic and coherent!
