Mission, Vision, Philosophy, Core Values

Mission

Harper College enriches its diverse communities by providing quality, affordable, and accessible education. Harper College, in collaboration with its partners, inspires the transformation of individual lives, the workforce, and society.

Vision

We will be an innovative and inclusive institution, the community’s first choice, and a national leader for student success.

Philosophy Statement

We, at Harper College, believe that our charge is to facilitate active learning and foster the knowledge, critical thinking and life/work skills required for participation in our global society. We work with our community partners to enrich the intellectual, cultural and economic fabric of our district. We believe that excellence in education must occur in an ethical climate of integrity and respect. We hold that the strength of our society is rooted in our diversity and that it is through synergy that we achieve excellence.

Core Values

We value Respect, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.

We guide our work and support our philosophy, mission and vision by these core values.

RESPECT

We demonstrate Respect by interacting with and caring for others in a way that adds dignity to ourselves, our relationships and our organization by:

valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of individuals and their strengths;
expressing appreciation for our colleagues’ time, efforts and contributions;
encouraging multiple perspectives.

INTEGRITY

We demonstrate Integrity by supporting an honest and ethical environment by:

respecting confidentiality and acting in a trustworthy manner;
being accountable for our actions and adhering to policies and procedures;
making decisions that are fiscally and socially responsible.

COLLABORATION

We demonstrate Collaboration by working internally and externally toward shared goals to create a more positive outcome by:

actively listening, responding to others with empathy;
practicing open and honest communication and sharing information that is essential for success;
using positive humor to foster a healthy and enjoyable environment.

EXCELLENCE

We demonstrate Excellence by setting and pursuing high standards of professionalism and competency by:

providing exceptional service to all while demonstrating pride in our work;
welcoming new challenges and seeking opportunities for growth and development;
encouraging and empowering each of us to achieve our best.

Download Core Values 8.5 x 11 PDF
Download Core Values 11 x 17 PDF

Culture of Care

As a Harper community, through our actions we demonstrate our Core Values and embrace that everyone is important. Together, we create a community where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive. You MATTER, We CARE.