Mission of the College

It is the mission of Coe College to provide students an education of superior quality that aims at preparing them for life following graduation. Our reason to exist as an institution is to ready students intellectually, professionally, and socially to lead productive and satisfying lives in the global society of the 21st century. As such, our success as a College is measured according to the success of our graduates.

We believe that a liberal arts education is the best preparation for life. We believe that such an education allows students to discover what their real talents and interests are, and that it develops in them the skills, abilities, and habits of mind that will make possible a successful career in any field of endeavor, including ones that do not yet exist. Indeed, we believe that what defines a liberal arts education is its focus on cultivating in students certain fundamental abilities: the ability to think logically and analytically; the ability to communicate clearly, both in writing and speaking; the ability to use effectively computer technology; the ability to work productively as a member of a group seeking to achieve a common objective; the ability to make informed judgments, whether in the realm of ethical behavior or in that of aesthetic appreciation; the ability to foster and sustain an attitude of intellectual curiosity and creativity; and the ability to recognize and honor true excellence when found in any form or context. Furthermore, we believe that it is important for a liberal arts education to cultivate in students a desire to understand, a capacity for tolerance, and an ability to appreciate the ethnic and cultural diversity that make up humankind. It is the mission of the College to develop in students these abilities and attitudes, and in so doing to provide them an education that directs them toward a meaningful and successful life.

Coe’s academic program reflects a commitment to developing these abilities by its insistence that students acquire certain educational experiences. We require that students complete both our general education requirements, which ensure breadth of learning, and our requirements for a major, which guarantee depth of knowledge in a particular field. In addition, as part of each student’s education, a series of intensive writing experiences, spread across the four years of study, is required. Beyond these requirements, students are encouraged to begin planning for their lives after college early on in their undergraduate careers, and, through careful advising, they are given guidance and direction in this endeavor. Indeed, the defining feature of a Coe education is the requirement that every student plan and participate in one of the following: a significant experiential project, such as an internship; a major scholarly undertaking; or study abroad. These experiences will often, though not invariably, occur during the junior year.

The hallmark of a Coe education is our attention to each student as an individual. It is also important that the college environment at Coe reflects our commitment to a diverse student body and overall college community. We believe that through listening carefully to each student as his or her interests and unique talents are formed, and through tailoring an academic program to suit each student’s future, we help that student develop abilities that provide the best preparation for life.