Goal 1:     Our students will receive an excellent liberal arts education that both challenges them intellectually and prepares them to become good men and good citizens. They will learn to forge connections between the world of ideas and that of experience and will graduate well-prepared to succeed in the field of their choice.

We adhere to teaching approaches fundamental to an atmosphere of sound learning in the liberal arts.  Therefore, our classes will be small, permitting vital interplay between student and professor.  We will employ appropriate technology to further the dialogue essential to learning. 

·   To accomplish its mission of educating "good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning," the College will continue to support a rigorous and extensive core curriculum that fosters students' mental and moral growth by ensuring that students acquire an integrated education in the social sciences, humanities, and in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences.  In all of their classes, students will be required to read and think critically, analytically, creatively, and independently and to use appropriate technology effectively.  Students will also pursue deeper studies, attaining a major in at least one field.

·   An excellent education includes a diversity of experiences and perspectives throughout and beyond the curriculum. Broadening our community will allow our students the opportunity to learn, to live, and to interact with diverse groups both within and without the classroom.

                    Therefore, whenever possible, we will hire quality faculty and staff to increase minority representation from 2002-03 levels (faculty, 2.8%; exempt staff, 1%).

                     By 2003, minority and international student enrollment will reach 7.5%; by 2004, it will reach 8%; by 2005, it will reach 8.5%; by 2006, it will reach 9%; and by 2007, it will reach 9.5%. 

                     By 2010, a greater percentage of students will enroll from outside the Commonwealth of Virginia (36% of students were from out-of-state in the fall of 2002).

·   By 2008, the College will have an endowment of at least $2 million to underwrite the expenses for students to engage in internships related to their studies, and another endowment of at least $2 million to underwrite study abroad and other educational experiences beyond the campus that widen their perspectives. 

·   The College will maintain a student-faculty ratio of no greater than 11 to 1.

·   The foundation of an excellent education is an excellent faculty, and these faculty members should be appropriately compensated.  Therefore, the College will maintain faculty salaries at all ranks at the 80th percentile of AAUP IIB institutions.  The College will also maintain and augment whenever possible its program of support for professional travel, summer research, and other faculty development options including start-up expenses for new appointments.

                     By 2005, the Provost and Dean of the Faculty will forward a recommendation about whether to offer release time or other compensation for department and program chairs. 

·   The College will encourage and support faculty initiatives to employ appropriate technology in the educational process.  Toward this end, the College, at the minimum, will maintain its allocation of $300,000 annually to support retirement and replacement of hardware and software, and to underwrite training in pedagogical uses of technology.

·   An excellent education requires sufficient numbers of well-qualified students to support a deep program in the liberal arts.  Enrollment will grow to 1,150 by the year 2010 and the entering classes will have composite SAT scores of at least 1150. 

The five year graduation rate will equal 72 percent by 2008, 75 percent by 2013, and improve to 80 percent by 2025.                 

·   Graduates will attest that our education prepared them well for their pursuits post-graduation.  Graduate schools and employers of our graduates also will attest that our graduates are well-prepared.