Mission of the College
Salem College is an independent college committed to the liberal arts and quality professional preparation. Founded by the Moravian Church in 1772 as a school for girls, Salem strives to set its signature upon its students by encouraging them to recognize and strengthen their human faculties and their capacities for service, professional life, and leadership. In light of evidence that such powers flourish when women live and learn within a community dedicated to their education, Salem affirms its commitment to young women in a residential setting. As a result of the historical evolution of its mission, the College educates both women and men in the community through its Continuing Studies Program and Graduate Program in Education.
Salem believes that a liberal education endows students with a fundamental understanding of the human condition, of our cultural and spiritual heritage, and of our pluralistic and technological society. The College provides a rigorous academic program which fosters clarity of thought and expression and enables students to become familiar with the humanities, the natural and social sciences, and the fine arts, and to concentrate on a chosen field. Building on its liberal arts foundation, the College offers pre-professional and career programs which prepare students for creative and productive lives after graduation.
Drawing on the Moravian heritage in education, Salem seeks to be a community of scholars. Its faculty is committed to excellence in teaching and advising, continued scholarship, and concern for the intellectual and personal growth of students. Acting as mentors and friends, the faculty provides Salem students with the challenges, individual attention, and encouragement requisite to self-government of confident, independent learners. By its commitment to self-government and an honor code, the College preserves a humane community of shared values in which each member is treated with dignity and respect. Salem's size, campus environment, and diverse student body enrich the sense of community.
Salem seeks to demonstrate the relevance of more than two centuries of liberal education to the demands of contemporary society. Salem provides a special environment where students experience the rewards of rigorous academic work, expand their capacity for creative, analytical, and ethical thought, and prepare for positions of leadership and responsibility in a changing world.