The Concept of Self Governance
Those engaged in a liberal arts education create a community based on freedom of choice. By making individual choices, students meet the challenges of a rigorous academic and rich out-of-classroom experience. Self-governance encourages students to become responsible, respectful, and accountable members of the campus, town, and global community.
Principles of Self Governance
- You are responsible for your community. That is, you work at a variety of levels to build, maintain, and contribute to the campus, local, and global community.
- You are accountable for your choices. That is, you take ownership for your actions, opinions, and beliefs.
- You are accountable for preventing your actions from infringing or violating others' rights.
- You are responsible for speaking and listening to others to reach shared understandings.
- You are responsible for addressing situations and communicating concerns about issues that undermine community or individual rights, whether they be your own or others.
These principles of self-governance are supported through:
- an administrative structure intentionally designed to challenge and support students to govern themselves
- an academic structure encouraging choice through an individually advised curriculum
- a campus community committed to social consciousness and community involvement.
