Our institutional purpose
Why we exist and what we seek to accomplish
The College of Wooster provides a rigorous and dynamic education in the liberal arts and sciences to students in preparation for productive lives as responsible global citizens. Wooster graduates creative and independent thinkers with refined communication skills and exceptional abilities to research complex questions, analyze problems, and create solutions.
I would encourage us to say something here about what students do, something along the lines of “….We strive to provide an environment in which students, working together with faculty, take responsibility for constructing their own individualized education. The result is that Wooster graduates creative and independent thinkers with exceptional abilities to research complex questions, analyze problems, develop solutions, and communicate their ideas.”
I would like to see the following concept incorporated: WE SEEK TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS DEDICATED TO THE ENRICHMENT OF THE LARGER HUMAN COMMUNITY.
The term “community of scholars” emphasizes both the intellectual effort and the mutual aid and respect we seek to foster. The term “enrich” incorporates the arts as well as science. “The larger human community” connotes our recognition that we are humans without borders on this tiny planet, and that we seek knowledge for a humane purpose, not just for its own sake.
-Gordon Shull (retired faculty)
-Gordon Shull
I’d like to see a brief description of the students we aim to educate. (Almost every other noun in the statement has a descriptive adjective.) Given that we award merit-based financial aid, we are seeking to attract students with specific qualities. Can we indicate this with an adjective or two? “Diverse?” “Worthy?” “All students of ability?”