Penn State Mission Statement
Penn State is a multi-campus public research university that improves the lives of the people of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality programs in teaching, research, and service.
Our instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing and distance education informed by scholarship and research. Our research, scholarship, and creative activities promote human and economic development through the expansion of knowledge and its applications in the natural and applied sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and professions.
As Pennsylvania’s land-grant university, we also hold a unique responsibility to provide access, outreach and public service to support the citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond. We engage in collaborative activities with industrial, educational and agricultural partners here and abroad to generate, disseminate, integrate, and apply knowledge.
Student Affairs Mission Statement
The mission of the Division of Student Affairs at Penn State Altoona is to provide students with the services and developmental opportunities that will challenge and support their academic experiences, enhance the quality of their lives, and prepare them to function successfully as servant leaders within a diverse, multicultural, and international world.
Office of Residence Life Mission Statement
Residence Life at Penn State Altoona strives to provide our students with a safe living-learning environment that will challenge and support their academic pursuits and personal growth while fostering a sense of community, civic responsibility, and an appreciation of diversity.
Vision
Residence Life creates the highest quality living-learning environments, programs and services to challenge and support Penn State students as they become active and responsible members within their communities.
Educational Priority
Residence Life commits to educational priorities of respect and responsibility. All residents will explore, understand and demonstrate respect for self and others, and responsibility for self, community and the environment.
Beliefs, Values, and Principles
- The residence hall is an educationally purposeful community where the support of intellectual growth is a core and student, faculty, and staff are partners in strengthening teaching and learning in the living setting.
Residence Life values learning; i.e.; growth and the advancement of knowledge, skills, and understanding in all dimensions.
Because we value learning, our guiding principles include:
- Providing an environment that enhances and augments the academic mission of the University,
- Providing opportunities for self-exploration,
- Providing opportunities for learning about various lifestyles, cultures, values, etc.,
- Providing challenges and appropriate levels of support to student and staff.
- The residence hall is a just community where the dignity of each individual is affirmed and equitable opportunity is vigorously pursued.
Residence Life values individual differences; i.e.; acknowledging the uniqueness of each individual and accepting, appreciating, and celebrating their right to that uniqueness.
Because we value individual differences, our guiding principles include:
- Acting affirmatively in all selection and hiring processes,
- Promoting awareness and understanding of and sensitivity to differences,
- Opposing intolerance, oppressive behaviors, bigotry, and harassment related to human differences.
- The residence hall is an open community where freedom of expression is uncompromisingly protected and civility is expected and powerfully affirmed.
Residence Life values mutual respect; i.e.; consideration and regard for each other.
Because we value mutual respect, our guiding principles include;
- Presenting an opportunity for all sides of an issue to be heard,
- Promoting an open exchange of ideas,
- Encouraging open communication between and among all levels of staff and students,
- Fostering an appreciation and celebration of differences,
- Developing supportive and cooperative relationships with other divisions/departments.
- The residence hall is a disciplined community where individuals accept their responsibility for contributing to the common good.
Residence Life values a sense of community; i.e. feelings of belonging, sharing standards and goals, supporting the common good.
Because we value a sense of community, our guiding principles include:
- Promoting a sense of responsibility and accountability to oneself and the group,
- Fostering cooperation between and among all levels of staff and students,
- Supporting individuals' rights while protecting the common good,
- Nurturing the development of civil community standards.
- The residence hall is a caring community where the well being of every member is sensitively supported and service to others is encouraged.
Residence Life values service to all students; i.e.; providing quality assistance to every resident regardless of our own individual beliefs, views, and perspectives.
Because we value service to all students, our guiding principles include:
- Placing students' needs first,
- Recognizing the worth and dignity of each student,
- Providing equitable, not necessarily equal, distribution of goods and services to students.
