Clinton’s Core Values

In my previous post, I made reference to the book Built to Last by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras. In the book, Collins and Porras point out that some organizations have thrived over many generations of leaders because they have a Vision Framework that includes a Core Ideology and an Envisioned Future.

The Core Ideology is an expression of the heart and soul of the organization. It describes, at a fundamental level, why the organization exists (Core Purpose) and what the organization holds dear (Core Values). In my last post, I described Clinton’s Core Purpose: to provide educational, cultural and social experiences that have a transformative effect on individual students and that help to strengthen the community. In this post, I will complete the description of Clinton’s Core Ideology by describing our Core Values.

Like Clinton’s statement of Core Purpose, this statement of Core Values is based on broad input from students, faculty and staff. While it may still need some final editing, the main concepts have been identified. At our core, we value the following:

• Access & Opportunity – As an expression of this value, we offer a variety of academic programs and diverse delivery modes designed to make higher education available to all people.
• Excellence – As an expression of this value, we strive to provide high quality courses, programs and services that meet the needs of our students and our community.
• Integrity – As an expression of this value, we strive for noble and honorable goals that improve the human condition, and we resist the temptation to compromise our principles for short-term gains.
• Community – As an expression of this value, we recognize that the College is a community of diverse individuals and that we are also part of many larger communities.
• Focus on the Student – As an expression of this value, we focus on student learning and personal development.

Of course, we hold many other values, too, but these are the five that we have discovered at our core. Even if these values were to cause us to be unpopular or unprofitable, we would continue to live by them because we believe so strongly in them.

Once discovered, the Core Ideology is cherished, protected and preserved as a set of guiding principles by and for the organization. In a sense, Core ideology is about holding on to that which is fundamentally good. On the other hand, the Envisioned Future is all about change and aspiration. The most enduring and successful organizations, according to Collins and Porras, create an Envisioned Future that is true to their Core Ideology, yet big, hairy and audacious. I will have more to say about that in future posts.

Meanwhile, what do you have to say? I welcome your feedback to this or any of my posts. Feel free to e-mail me at presidentsblog@clinton.edu.