Shimer College Assembly Approves New Mission Statement

In its March 21 meeting, the Assembly of Shimer College unanimously approved the following mission statement, selected from among a total 10 candidate statements that had been put forward.

Shimer College—the Great Books College of Chicago—provides and preserves education centered on discussion of enduring questions and issues. Historically influential original sources are studied through Socratic questioning, in small seminar classes and following the curriculum developed by Robert Maynard Hutchins. The core values informing education at Shimer are free inquiry, dialog, critical open-mindedness, and integration of disciplines. As a community, the College offers all its members the opportunity to participate meaningfully in deciding the future of the institution. A Shimer education demands much of both the intellect and the character of students, and prepares them for responsible citizenship and the examined life.

The Assembly further approved a request to the Board of Trustees that the statement be formally adopted, without modification, at the May meeting.