College Mission Statement
“Increase in Excellence,” the historic motto of Emory & Henry College, expresses our intention to be a learning community that moves toward fulfilling every student’s potential. Bishop John Emory, along with the founders of Methodism, symbolizes our belief in the union of faith and learning, while Governor Patrick Henry symbolizes our commitment to freedom and civic virtue.
We affirm the Christian faith as our spiritual and moral heritage and encourage all our members to grow in faith as they grow in knowledge. We believe in the worth of each person’s religious and cultural heritage, inasmuch as their heritage leads to service to others in our region and the larger world.
We affirm the liberal arts as our intellectual foundation and believe that excellence results when everyone actively participates in the educational process. We challenge all persons to confront historical and contemporary ideas and issues and to develop the ability to think critically about all areas of human experience.
These traditions provide the context for our pursuit of excellence, as we engage a diverse group of well-qualified men and women in educational experiences that lead to lives of service, productive careers, and global citizenship.
Vision Statement
Emory & Henry College will be a national leader in providing the highest quality liberal arts, graduate, and professional education that combines tradition and innovation as it fulfills our historic commitment to transform lives and to create positive social change in our region, our nation, and the world.
Core Values
Civic Engagement. We expect ourselves to act individually and collectively to identify and address issues of public concern through active engagement and leadership in civic life and through professions that contribute to the public good, such as teaching and health care. We encourage participation in community conversations, advocacy, service and public life at the local, national, and international levels.
Vitality of Faith. We value our relationship with The United Methodist Church, even as we welcome and respect persons with other faith views and commitments. We affirm the Christian faith as a guiding force in people’s lives and encourage the expression of faith in service to others.
Academic Excellence. We cultivate the highest academic quality with innovative teaching, active learning, intensive mentoring, meaningful scholarship, and intellectual challenge. We value the many relationships that allow faculty and staff to meet students on their various paths and journey with them as we all increase in excellence.
Freedom of Inquiry. We affirm our academic freedom to pursue knowledge and to question ways of thinking and doing. Because we know that learning is a lifelong journey, we ask difficult questions and seek answers wherever they may lead.
Integrity. We accept the human necessity of making difficult choices as we uphold a high standard of truth and honor. Affirming the value of ethical reasoning, we recognize our responsibility to evaluate and respond to the consequences of decisions and actions.
Community and Diversity. We appreciate individuality and treat each other with respect and fairness. We nurture a caring community that focuses on the needs of its students, faculty, and staff. We believe that being open to understanding others and participating in honest discourse builds tolerance and promotes diversity and acceptance.
Place. We value our place in the Appalachian region and affirm the importance of other places in the nation and the world. We work to preserve and nurture our environment and culture and to provide models of positive change as we consider our place in a larger world.
History and Tradition. We honor traditions and values that have shaped our college for more than 170 years. Civic engagement, the vitality of faith, and the transformative nature of education, among other traditions and values, will guide us as we move into the future.
Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Statement
The Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging at Emory & Henry College affirms the belief that diversity, in an environment of educational fairness, unbounded inquiry, and celebrated differences, is a defining factor in a successful liberal arts education. Such celebrated differences include race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, language, political belief or affiliation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, geographic region, and more.
The Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging at Emory & Henry College seeks to provide each student with a learning environment that fosters healthy relationships, acceptance, and appreciation within the community. To this end, the Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging is committed to being free of all forms of abuse, discrimination, and harassment.
Therefore, to continue increasing in excellence, the Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging at Emory & Henry College renews a commitment to diversity through the recognition, support, and celebration of differences. The Division of Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging also commits to the active recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in our staffing to provide for a more inclusive multicultural community.
Emory & Henry College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or physical handicap in the administration of its educational policies, hiring policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Emory & Henry College affirms the dignity and worth of every individual.
Emory & Henry College reserves the right to make changes to the policies and procedures contained in this handbook, including the decision to add or discontinue courses or programs. When possible, the College will attempt to minimize the inconvenience such changes might create for students.