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.
West Chester University is committed to attracting,
enrolling, and graduating quality students from a wide variety
of educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds. This
endeavor requires the University to attract and retain highly
qualified faculty and staff and to provide each member of the
University community with learning and leadership development
opportunities. To this end, the University supports and
encourages programs which benefit all people and which seek to
eradicate discrimination and injustice. We treasure what we
believe to be the highest principles of American society: the
worth and uniqueness of each individual, the belief that success
is to be earned by individual effort put forth in an environment
founded on equality of opportunity, and the appreciation of the
ideal of an inclusive society.
We believe that it is incumbent upon all members of our
community - staff, students, faculty and administrators - to
conduct themselves with civility toward one another at all
times. We value the special talents and contributions of each
member of our community. We further affirm the worth and dignity
of each member and the shared responsibility of all to treat
each other as individuals, with respect and courtesy.
As a university owned by the citizens of Pennsylvania, we
value our mission to provide the best educational opportunities
possible which will enable the University community to
successfully address the concerns of a global society. To this
end, West Chester University seeks to provide diligent advising
for students and to focus on teaching students to think clearly
and critically, to make logical and ethical judgments, and to
communicate effectively with others.
West Chester University's community strongly supports the
principles of academic integrity and academic responsibility,
viewing both as the province of every member of the campus
community. We hold the highest esteem for teaching directed
toward student learning and affirm that mastery of content as
well as mastery of teaching skills necessary to communicate such
content are paramount.
This values statement is intended to be a living document
which will serve West Chester University as it changes and
evolves in the coming years.