Mission, vision and values of the college

Mission

Goshen College transforms local and global communities through courageous, creative and compassionate leaders. Shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, we integrate academic excellence and real-world experience with active love for God and neighbor.

Vision

Goshen College will cultivate joy, growth and purpose, preparing students to thrive in life, leadership and service. Rooted in the way of Jesus, we seek inclusive community and transformative justice in all that we do.

Core values

At Goshen College we intend to create a community of faith and learning built on five core values: Christ-centeredness, passionate learning, servant leadership, compassionate peacemaking and global citizenship.

CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS:

a reflective faith that nurtures spiritual growth in individual and corporate contexts.
an active faith that informs all of life’s choices.

PASSIONATE LEARNING:

the mastery of a major field of study as the basis for life-long learning, service, relationships and work in a socially and culturally diverse context.
an extensive foundation of knowledge, skills, processes and methodologies derived from a liberal arts curriculum that are required for systematic study and problem solving.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP:

a leadership ability that empowers self and others.
a healthy understanding of self and others that is reflected in relationships of interdependence and mutual accountability.

COMPASSIONATE PEACEMAKING:

a personal integrity that fosters the ability to resolve conflict and to promote justice.
a commitment to diversity in all of its forms, both conceptually and in practice.

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP:

an intercultural openness with the ability to function effectively with people of other world views.
a responsible understanding of stewardship for human systems and the environment in a multicultural world.

See the Goshen Core section of the catalog for more information about student learning outcomes at Goshen College.

Historic church relationship, open to all

Goshen College was established in 1894 and is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, a Christian denomination that grew out of the 16th-century Anabaptist movement in northern Europe. With the Friends (Quakers) and the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites are one of the three historic peace churches in the United States. From its roots in the Mennonite church, Goshen College has derived a spirit of peacemaking, stewardship, community, and service. The college motto since 1904 is “Culture for Service.”

Around 19 percent of students and 62 percent of faculty members are Anabaptist-Mennonite affiliated. Students also come from more than 45 different faith traditions, including several world religions. All full-time faculty members profess a commitment to the college’s values, and many have lived or worked outside the United States, often in church-related service work. Students are not required to be Christians to attend Goshen, but must be willing to accept and live by the Goshen College Commitment to Community Standards.

Accreditation

Goshen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission [hlcommission.org] and is classified as a Baccalaureate-Arts & Sciences college by the Carnegie Foundation.

Goshen College is authorized by the Indiana Office of Educator Licensing and Development and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education [chea.org/national-council-accreditation-teacher-education] for the preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers.

The department of nursing is approved by the Indiana State Board of Nurses Registration and Nursing Education and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education [aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation].

The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education [cswe.org].

Alumnae of Goshen College are admitted to membership in the American Association of University Women. Goshen College is authorized by name by the State of Indiana. Goshen College participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) as an approved Indiana NC-SARA institution. Goshen College is registered with the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Student consumer information

Goshen College maintains a student consumer information web page, which provides links to all information required by federal or state authorities for “student right-to-know” regulations. See goshen.edu/about/leadership/student-consumer-information.

Equal opportunity

Goshen College is in compliance with all federal regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status in its recruitment, admission, educational, athletic, financial aid and employment policies and programs.