Statement of Purpose

Mission Statement
An outstanding historically Black college for women, Spelman promotes academic excellence in the liberal arts, and develops the intellectual, ethical, and leadership potential of its students. Spelman seeks to empower the total person, who appreciates the many cultures of the world and commits to positive social change.

Statement of Purpose
Spelman, a pioneer in leadership education for Black women, promotes academic excellence in the liberal arts. This predominantly residential, private college provides an academic climate that develops students’ intellectual and leadership potential. The College is a member of the Atlanta University Center consortium, and Spelman students enjoy the benefits of a small college while having access to the resources of the other four participating institutions.

The educational program at the College is designed to give students a comprehensive liberal arts background through study in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively and to improve their communicative, quantitative, and technological skills. The academic program prepares students for graduate and professional study as well as entry into the world of work. Spelman seeks to empower the total person. The College provides an environment that enables self-confidence, cultural enrichment, and spiritual well-being. This environment attempts to instill in students an appreciation for the many cultures of the world, a willingness to serve the community, and a sense of responsibility for bringing about positive social change.

Spelman offers an educational experience characterized by excellence. It reinforces a sense of pride and hope, develops character, and inspires the love of learning. The programs of the College rest on the expectation that the students, the community, and society at large will benefit from a liberal arts education. Spelman has been, and expects to continue to be, a major resource for educating Black women leaders.

The Statement of Purpose has been translated into a list of institutional goals and a list of behaviors that the Spelman College graduate should be able to demonstrate.

The institutional goals are these:

1. The College will continue to serve as a resource for educating Black women leaders.
2. The College will continue to maintain an environment of academic excellence that promotes optimal intellectual, cultural, ethical, spiritual, and physical development.
3. The College will continue to maintain an environment that nurtures self-confidence, pride, hope, strength of character, and a love of learning.
4. The College will continue to encourage students to appreciate the many cultures of the world, to serve their communities, and to commit to positive social change.

The list of behaviors encompasses three categories:

Intellectual Development

1. Recognize major concepts in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts.
2. Apply an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
3. Use diverse methods of scholarly inquiry.
4. Demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge in at least one academic discipline.
5. Demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills.
6. Demonstrate proficiency in communicative, quantitative, and technological skills.
7. Demonstrate standards of academic excellence.
8. Preparation for Graduate or Professional School and the World of Work
9. Demonstrate academic preparation and skills for specific professions and careers.

Personal Development

1. Demonstrate self-confidence and self-respect.
2. Demonstrate pride in her own culture.
3. Demonstrate a knowledge of those issues that have particular significance to Black women.
4. Apply a set of moral and ethical values as a guide to personal behavior.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of and sensitivity to the many cultures of the world.
6. Demonstrate a willingness to serve the community and a commitment to bringing about positive social change.
7. Demonstrate a love of learning.
8. Demonstrate leadership skills that can be used in community and world organizations, business, government, religion, education, etc.
9. Assess her own qualities, talents, skills, values, and interests.