Berry College Mission and Purpose
Mission
Berry College is a comprehensive liberal-arts college with
Christian values. The college furthers our students’ intellectual, moral
and spiritual growth; proffers lessons that are gained from worthwhile
work done well; and challenges them to devote their learning to
community and civic betterment. Berry emphasizes an educational program
committed to high academic standards, values based on Christian
principles, practical work experience and community service in a
distinctive environment of natural beauty. It is Berry’s goal to make an
excellent private liberal-arts education accessible to talented
students from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds.
Purpose
Our first responsibility is to provide an education in the
liberal arts and professional fields to meet the intellectual, moral and
material needs of our students; and we dedicate ourselves and our
academic program toward fulfilling this responsibility. Research,
publication and other scholarly activities are valued and are expected
to contribute to good teaching by the faculty. In keeping with this
expectation, our faculty and staff dedicate themselves primarily to
teaching effectively and to inspiring students to academic excellence.
An essential part of a sound education is the opportunity to explore
religious faith and to relate faith with learning responsibly and
intelligently, and we dedicate ourselves to providing these
opportunities. The college is dedicated to the interdenominational
Christian values on which it was founded and welcomes individuals of
diverse backgrounds into the campus community.
Worthwhile work complements knowledge and faith in building
character. We dedicate ourselves to providing this opportunity. An
important part of higher education is the opportunity to participate in
the internal affairs and governance of the college. We dedicate
ourselves to providing this opportunity for faculty and students.
These dedications guide Berry’s faculty, staff, trustees and
students toward a realistic and balanced educational program. Our
concern for the individual permeates our principles. The ultimate aim of
Berry is service to humanity through persons who find here both
inspiration and preparation as best expressed in Berry’s motto, “Not to
be ministered unto, but to minister.”