Philosophy, Mission and Vision

The following statement is an attempt by the directors, administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni to express the purposes and specific objectives of Eastern University.

Faith, Reason and Justice 

A primary commitment of Eastern University is education within the boundaries of Christian world view thinking and living. To be sure there is more than a single way to develop and express a Christ-centered mindset and life-style. Yet Eastern's faculty are in agreement on a number of central convictions and commitments. The mission of the college expresses many of those as well as its doctrinal statement and standards of community development. The faculty indicate their good-faith agreement with these core values and beliefs by a public signing ceremony. At the fall honors convocation, they do so as a token of their belief that Jesus Christ is the Creator, Redeemer and Reconciler of the world and that life and thought in submission to him provides the strongest foundation for research, education and action in the 21st century.

A central mission of Eastern University is the blending of Christ-centered faith, careful reasoning and a full-orbed justice. Faith orients us to the reality of God, God's creation and the destiny of all things within the Kingdom of God. Eastern is a faith-based Christian university of the Liberal Arts and Sciences. It seeks in all its endeavors to be faithful in thought, word and deed. Jesus calls us to just living in all our relationships and dealings. Eastern's education intentionally builds links between the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ and all areas of thought and action. Its goal is to help students and faculty alike to achieve a wisdom and style of living that is constructive, true and relevant to the 21st century. We invite you to join the journey! 

Academic and co-curricular programs at Eastern University are planned and carried out in the hope that all members of the college community will:

• Appreciate that all truth is from God and that Jesus Christ should be acknowledged as the Lord of the intellect;
• Display a knowledge of biblical teachings and their application to life situations;
• Seriously consider the claims of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord;Develop a Christian world-view;
• Be committed to excellence in their academic work and to life-long learning;Be determined to apply their knowledge in service to others; 
• Be equipped with the communication and problem-solving skills which will enable them to participate creatively in society;Be aware of their own worth and potential;Increasingly develop self-awareness and sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others;
• Be aware of their historical and aesthetic heritage;Have a grasp of the wonder of the created universe;
• Develop an appreciation of diversity among individuals and among cultures;
• Be prepared to live in an interdependent world, aware of global problems and dedicated to bring God's justice and peace to all individuals and societies;
• Exercise Christian stewardship of their time, possessions and bodies.
  

Traditional Undergraduate Education

The mission of the Eastern University Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences is to equip its graduates to be knowledgeable, skilled, wise, and Christ-like active participants in a global and multi-ethnic society and church. Sometimes their participatory role will be that of wise and caring leader; at other times their role will be to serve as informed and supportive follower. In both roles graduates must possess skills in effective communication (including the ability to communicate cross-culturally), evaluation of evidence and arguments, insightful questioning, logical reasoning, and creative and constructive problem-solving within a Christian world view. 

Such graduates must also be individuals whose character—in thought, word, and deed—reflects Christ-like virtues, including the values of

• personal integrity
• social responsibility
• civility
• compassion
• justice
• the pursuit of excellence

These skills and values—the tools necessary to be an equipped and active participant—shall be taught, modeled, and practiced throughout the entire curricular and co-curricular program.

Vision Statement

We envision a society that is more diverse, more complex, more interconnected, and at the same time, more divided than at any time in our history. Such a world needs both the temporal and spiritual insights and answers that our graduates will be equipped to provide or prepared to further learn to provide. As an undergraduate program, we will furnish the foundation and the worldview needed by our graduates to understand these critical problems and either the introductory education and skills to address them or the basic knowledge and training needed for the graduate or professional education required to help solve them.

In order to achieve our vision, our curriculum must be broadened, deepened, and integrated beyond its present status. Students must not only learn about diversity and the global world, but must experience it in the classroom and beyond. Students must not only take courses, but they must develop competencies that can inform all of their learning. Students must not only receive an education, but must demonstrate the ability to communicate and use what they have learned.

In the next five years, we envision  

• a faculty that represents the diversity within the Body of Christ,
• a faculty that has first-hand international or multi-cultural experience,
  
• a faculty that is actively involved in some form of scholarship,
• a faculty/student ratio that permits mentoring through effective faculty-student relationships, pedagogical and assessment adjustment for individual and group differences, and time for the faculty member to have a life beyond Eastern,
• a student body with a least 20% from underrepresented groups and an elimination of differential rates of retention and,
• students who demonstrate basic competencies in areas critical for success in a global and technological world,students who integrate their theological positions with their major discipline,
• students who have an immersion experience internationally or in a multi-cultural environment,
• a Computer Science based program becoming a major,
• an increase in the proportion of students enrolled in the Global and Urban Studies programs and in mathematics, computer science, and natural science programs,
• an active student research program in every department,
• five programs having a 5-year bachelors’ to Master’s possibility, and
  
• two programs developing distance learning components for adult learners in SPS, alumni, or the CCCU distance-learning venture.