Philosophy of Education

We Believe:

• Education is valuable in and of itself.
• Learning is a lifelong commitment that transforms lives and promotes responsible citizenship.
• General education courses expose all degree-seeking students to a common body of skills, knowledge, and values that form the basis for lifelong learning.
• Learning occurs inside and outside the classroom, including co-curricular and service activities.
• Higher order reasoning and effective decision-making are essential to a sound education.
• Intellectual expression requires effective reading, writing, and communication skills.
• Education serves practical and creative needs that are both individual and communal.
• Learning requires a forum wherein the free consideration of ideas, values, and informed points of view is encouraged, and where diversity of thought is valued.
• Instructional methods should be developed by qualified full and part-time professionals. Instruction should be dynamic, current, and effective, using a variety of learning technologies. It should engage students as active partners who are responsible for their learning and adapt to an increasingly multicultural, global, and technologically driven society.
• Access to education should be available to meet diverse student needs, ranging from adult basic education to honors offerings.
• Student success is the responsibility of all members of the college community. It requires that high expectations are set and standards of excellence are maintained.
• Improving learning requires the continual assessment of student success.