Winthrop University’s Mission and Values

Our Mission

Winthrop University provides personalized and challenging undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education programs of national caliber within a context dedicated to public service to the nation and to the State of South Carolina. Winthrop's longtime commitment to be among the very best institutions of its kind in the nation continually guides the mission of the university.

Building on its 19th century origins as a distinctive women's college, the Winthrop University of the 21st century is achieving national stature as a competitive and distinctive, co-educational, public, residential comprehensive, values oriented institution. The values of service, excellence, diversity, community, and leadership provide the foundation for Winthrop's continuing development and shape Winthrop's continuing success.

Winthrop enrolls an achievement-oriented, culturally diverse and socially responsible student body between 6,500 and 7,000 students.  The University recruits South Carolina's most able students as well as highly qualified students from beyond the state whose presence adds diversity and enrichment to the campus and the state. Winthrop prides itself on being an institution of choice for groups traditionally under-represented on many college campuses.

Winthrop is located in a traditional setting of exceptional beauty, and provides a contemporary, collaborative, and supportive environment that fosters engaged student learning and development. Winthrop has a diverse and able faculty and professional staff of national caliber and supports their work as effective teachers, scholars, researchers, practitioners, and creative artists. Through this talented group, Winthrop students acquire and develop knowledge, skills, capabilities and values that enrich their lives and prepare them to meet the needs and challenges of the contemporary world, including the ability to communicate effectively, appreciate diversity, work collaboratively, synthesize knowledge, solve complex problems and adapt to change. Ongoing assessment of programs and services ensures both that all academic programs challenge students at their highest level of ability and that the library, instructional technology and other academic service areas support courses of study that are consonant with best practices. As a result, Winthrop graduates are eminently well prepared to enter the most competitive graduate or professional schools as well as to be leaders in their chosen professions and in their communities.

Our Values

Winthrop University offers values-based contemporary education. For more than 20 years, a set of values has shaped Winthrop's successes, supported our development and kept us focused during good as well as challenging times. The values — service, excellence, diversity, community and leadership — speak to what this institution stands for clearly and concisely. Any institution can claim to have values, but we live ours. They are reflected in the promises we keep to our constituents:

  • We offer a challenging curriculum measured by national standards of quality.
  • We attract high-achieving, diverse and socially responsible students.
  • We support a highly qualified faculty dedicated to teaching and learning.
  • We emphasize personal identity and close relationships within a community of learners.
  • We challenge students to master concepts that will help them succeed in a rapidly changing world.
  • We provide a dynamic educational experience that prepares students to live, learn and lead for a lifetime.

These promises are a reflection of our values:

Service. We serve our future by preparing tomorrow's leaders and we serve our country by delivering on its investment in higher education

Excellence. We embrace only those programs and activities we can deliver at an exemplary level.

Diversity. We recognize that diversity gives meaning to our sense of community, enhances creativity, teaches flexibility and builds strength from difference.

Community. We share the commitment of leaving Winthrop and the surrounding area better places for our having been here.

Leadership. We respond to change, act in good faith and make wise decisions.

Learn in a program that puts these values at the forefront. Contact a program manager toll-free at 833/257-1704 or request more information to learn about Winthrop’s online graduate programs today!