Implicit in these Mission and Vision Statements and in the Affirmation of Community Responsibility Statement are the core values that inform the College’s actions in carrying out its mission and in pursuing its vision.
Excellence – The distinctive heritage of Illinois College is one of commitment to excellence. In all the College does, a guiding question will be “can it be done better?” Our students deserve the best in programs, facilities and services, and the College aspires for nothing less.
Integrity – Honesty, reliability and conviction are marks of character that the College highly values. They are the source of trustworthiness without which leadership founders. We will only be led by people we trust, and integrity evokes trust.
Community – Civility, mutual respect, cooperation and a pervasive sense of concern for others mark the sense of community at Illinois College. Community is prized both as an end in itself and as the setting for personal growth.
Justice – From its beginning, Illinois College has sought to be a just community both in its internal dealings and its relations with the wider society. The College strives to educate its students for engaged lives as responsible citizens and seeks to model the moral attitudes and behaviors it expects from those students.
Service – The College seeks to instill in its students an understanding that a life worth living is one that serves the common good. Our responsibility for the physical and social order demands an ethic of service. A liberating education is one that frees one to serve God and humankind and leads to the recognition that true leadership finds expression in service to others.
Respect – Respect for others is the foundation of morality and reflects the conviction of a fundamental equality among all people. The self-respect that is essential for personal fulfillment entails the affirmation of the inherent dignity of all sentient life.
Openness – Personal development is contingent upon the ability to learn and to grow. Openness to differing perspectives and empathy for others forestalls intellectual and social stagnation and is a spark for creativity. Empathy for others is also essential for developing respect, pursuing justice and building community.