Statement of Vision, Core Values, and Mission

Mission

As The Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel’s mission is to educate and develop principled leaders and citizen-soldiers, prepared to serve their state and nation, and to lead with integrity by instilling the core values of Honor, Duty, State, and Country in a disciplined and intellectually challenging environment. 

The Citadel strives to produce graduates who have insight into issues, ideas, and values that are of importance to society. It is equally important that Citadel graduates are capable of both critical and creative thinking, have effective communication skills, can apply abstract concepts to concrete situations, and possess the methodological skills needed to gather and analyze information.

Throughout its history, The Citadel’s primary purpose has been to educate undergraduates as members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and to prepare them for post-graduate positions of leadership through academic programs of recognized excellence supported by the best features of a military environment. The cadet lifestyle provides a structured environment that supports growth and development of each student’s intellect, discipline, physical fitness, and moral and ethical values. The four pillars which define The Citadel experience for cadets consist of these four developmental dimensions.

A complementary purpose of The Citadel, realized through The Citadel Graduate College, is to provide the citizens of the Lowcountry and the State of South Carolina opportunities for professional development by offering a broad range of educational programs of recognized excellence at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. These programs are designed to accommodate the needs of non-traditional students seeking traditional and demanding academic challenges.

Mission approval dates are recorded in the College Regulations.

Institutional Characteristics

The Citadel is a coeducational, comprehensive, state-assisted, four-year institution whose primary undergraduate student body consists of approximately 2,300 members of the Corps of Cadets, all of whom reside on campus. The primary service area for these students is regional, with approximately half of each freshman class coming from South Carolina. The Citadel, however, does draw undergraduate students from all parts of the United States and many foreign countries. The College offers a wide range of baccalaureate degree programs in the humanities, social and natural sciences, business administration, engineering, and education. These academic programs prepare graduates of the Corps of Cadets for a variety of careers; about half of these graduates enter business and the professions, a third or more enter the military and government service, and the remainder go directly into graduate and professional study. Many graduates choose to pursue professional or graduate degrees later in their careers.

Through its undergraduate and graduate programs, The Citadel Graduate College serves a degree-seeking population of approximately 1,200. The primary service area is the South Carolina Lowcountry. The Citadel Graduate College also offers a wide range of baccalaureate degree programs and graduate degree programs. Meeting the needs of the South Carolina Lowcountry in terms of instruction, public service, and research, including such initiatives as cooperative programs with other educational institutions, is an important part of The Citadel’s mission.

Together, the Corps of Cadets and The Citadel Graduate College enroll approximately 3,500 students, about three-fourths of whom come from South Carolina.

In its educational programs, The Citadel acknowledges and endorses the teacher-scholar ideal, recognizing that the excellence of all of its academic programs is dependent upon the quality of its faculty. This ideal is pursued through teaching and lecturing, researching, writing, publishing, and public service. The Citadel’s faculty members also address audiences beyond the college by sharing their knowledge with other scholars and with the public.

Statement of Vision

Achieving excellence in the education of principled leaders.

Core Values

Honor

Honor begins with the Honor Code of The Citadel. A cadet “will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” This is the rock upon which everything else stands. This commitment reaches beyond the gates of The Citadel and lasts a lifetime. Honor includes integrity: “doing the right thing when no one is watching.” Honorable people also show the moral courage to “do the right thing when everyone is watching.” The Honor Code is the foundation of our college.

Duty

In the words of General Lee, “Duty is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less.” Duty calls you to take on your responsibilities and carry them out. At The Citadel, your primary duty is to excel in your studies and to serve the Corps of Cadets and the campus community. You must accept the consequences of your actions. Once you hold yourself accountable, you must hold others accountable too. Duty is also a call to serve others before self, demonstrating respect for others, both those in authority and those you serve.

State and Country

Duty to State honors The Citadel’s unique history and its ties to South Carolina. It also honors the role of states within the United States federal system.

Duty to Country demands unwavering loyalty to the United States of America. It means upholding the Constitution, honoring our founding principles, and serving the Nation. It calls for a lifetime of selfless service and a commitment to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution. It means putting the United States, the Constitution, and the American People above personal interests.

BOV Commitment to Excellence and Ethics
Statement of Ethical Principles for Citadel Employees
Statement of Ethical Principles for Citadel Faculty