Our Mission & Values

The University of Charleston’s vision is to fulfill its long-standing mission by embracing diversity and adopting innovative practices to develop and enhance professional programs that provide applied, career-focused, student-centered experiences that empower students for personal growth and professional success.

Mission

The Mission of the University of Charleston is to educate each student for a life of productive work, enlightened living, and community involvement.

Here is how we define it:

Productive Work

“Productive” work isn’t defined by the acquisition of great material gain for the graduate, but by the positive impact of the work on the graduate’s community and world. UC prepares our students to contribute to society immediately and throughout their lives. Their work will vary tremendously, but we hope that each graduate will improve his or her world.

Enlightened Living

College graduates must own a broad range of knowledge to thrive in modern society. We prepare graduates to be scientifically, economically, politically, aesthetically and culturally literate with a sense of history and shared values, and a commitment to moral purpose and personal character.

Community Involvement

We want every student to develop a pattern of community involvement. The foundation of our society rests on community involvement, so we want our graduates to take leadership responsibility and initiative in shaping organizations, institutions and communities.

Values

We are student-focused.

We enable our students’ success.

We celebrate their accomplishments.

We champion and endorse our diversity.

We live our mission.

We have integrity.

We promote trust and transparency.

We respect and applaud the work of our colleagues.

We are responsible for our actions and encourage collaboration.

We develop character.

We provide quality.

We are committed to quality service.

We strive for excellence in all we do.

We promote a culture that inspires innovation.

We cultivate leaders.