West Virginia University

WVU Undergraduate Mission Statement

WVU undergraduate students take advantage of the unique instructional, research, and service opportunities at West Virginia’s only land-grant research university. Choosing from among a great variety of academic and student-life experiences, they obtain the comprehensive education required to succeed in a changing and complex career environment, to achieve enriching personal lives, to respect individual differences, and to serve as responsible citizens.

While pursuing an undergraduate degree at WVU, students will

  • Acquire the essential knowledge and skills in their majors to excel in their careers or to succeed in graduate or professional schools.
  • Gain hands-on exposure to the latest technology in their areas of specialization.
  • Obtain broad understanding of the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences, which enhances their ability to solve problems through creative and critical thinking, express complex ideas in a variety of ways, including through the written and spoken word, and continue professional and personal growth with a spirit of inquiry and a zest for lifelong learning.
  • Benefit from the uniqueness of the research university by partnering with faculty scholars engaged in advancing knowledge through scholarly activity.
  • Take advantage of the land-grant university’s direct and continuing contact with West Virginia’s citizens and communities through Extension, continuing education, service-learning, and other outreach programs.
  • Complement their academic experiences through structured out-of-classroom programs and services that clarify personal values and individual identities, support intellectual growth, and contribute to sound interpersonal relationships.
  • Advance their understanding and respect for human dignity and appreciation of individual differences.
  • Prepare to serve as leaders and responsible citizens, respectful of the environment and conscious of their impact on the local and global community.