About Cumberland University - Statement of Goals

Adopted 5/2/97; Amended as noted
  1. Each graduate will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities characteristic of an educated person.
  2. Each graduate will demonstrate a depth of understanding in a selected field of study and be prepared for entry into a meaningful career or advanced study.
  3. Each graduate will have the opportunity to participate in community-based service learning experiences.
  4. Each graduate will be facilitated in the development of the whole person through recognition of his/her unique needs and interests and the academic programs, student services, campus/residential life, and athletic activities offered.
  5. Students with developmental needs will be successfully integrated into regular programs of study.
  6. The instruction and evaluation methods utilized will be varied and diverse and will utilize instructional and informational technology appropriate to course objectives.
  7. Fifty percent of students will graduate within six years of enrolling as freshmen. (Amended 4/25/98)
  8. The physical plant, instructional resources, and technology and information systems will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching, learning, and operations.
  9. The University community will honor (respect) differences characteristic of a geographically and culturally diverse faculty and student body.
  10. The quality of life in the larger community will be enhanced through planned activities and programs that are responsive to community issues and interests.
  11. The University will field a variety of intercollegiate athletics teams for both men and women which respond to student interest and represent the University well in athletic ability, sportsmanship, and academic performance. (Adopted 6/9/03)
  12. Each recipient of a graduate degree will demonstrate the advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities characteristic of a post-graduate degree holder. (Adopted 6/9/03)

An educated person is assumed to possess the following attributes:
  1. Write, read, and speak English clearly and effectively in order to acquire knowledge, convey and discuss ideas, evaluate information, and think critically.
  2. Think analytically and reason logically using verifiable information and past experience in order to select or create solutions to problems.
  3. Deleted April 25, 1998.
  4. Understand other cultural traditions in order to gain a perspective on personal values and the similarities and differences among individuals and groups.
  5. Use mathematical concepts, interpret quantitative data, and use computers and other information technology in order to analyze problems and develop positions that depend on numbers and statistics.
  6. Use concepts from the behavioral and biological sciences in order to understand oneself and one's relationships with other people and to comprehend the nature and function of communities.
  7. Understand the physical world and its interrelationship with human activity in order to make decisions that are based on scientific evidence and responsive to the values and interests of the individuals and society.
  8. Comprehend life and time from historical and contemporary perspectives and draw from past experiences to influence the present and the future.
  9. Gain a perspective on social, political, and economic issues for resolving societal and professional problems.
  10. Comprehend the meaning of human spirituality in order to recognize the relationships of beliefs to culture, behavior, health, and healing.
  11. Appreciate the role of the fine and performing arts in stimulating individual creativity, expressing personal feelings and emotions, and building a sense of commonality of human experience.
  12. Understand the nature of human values and develop a personal philosophy in order to make ethical judgments in both personal and professional life.
A holder of a post-graduate degree is assumed to possess the following attributes:
  1. Understand in depth the history, theory, and practice of a discipline.
  2. Communicate effectively at an advanced level, using oral, visual, and written skills.
  3. Have the ability to engage in and contribute to research in the discipline at the appropriate level.
  4. Demonstrate competence in the systematic application of theory and research to practice in a professional field.
  5. Have an awareness of the impact of the profession upon society and of the resulting professional responsibilities of practitioners.
  6. Be willing to pursue professional advancement through self-improvement and life-long learning.