Eastern Mennonite University is proud to announce the result of a six-month process to review and refresh its values statement.
The new statement reads:
“We the community of learners—students, faculty, and staff—of Eastern Mennonite University value:
Academic Excellence
As a teaching university, we prioritize student learning. Our approach to teaching and learning is equitable and engaged as we seek to inspire curiosity, creativity and academic achievement.
Peace and Justice
As a leader in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and restorative justice, we pursue peace by teaching and practicing intercultural understanding, justice and equity, and environmental sustainability. We value diversity and seek to form unifying, inclusive leaders.
Active Faith
As a community, we seek to embody faith in action and serve and learn together to repair harm and restore hope. Shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs and practices and the life and teachings of Jesus, we practice compassion, mutual love, and appreciation for the diversity of religious and cultural expressions represented in our community.”
The goal of the process, as outlined in the Pathways of Promise strategic plan, was to invest in clarity and consistency regarding EMU’s values. These values will be consistently communicated across the university and used to amplify the EMU value proposition. The refreshed values connect more seamlessly with the university vision statement, which frames the strategic plan.
The process began in January 2024 with discussions about the scope of the review and revision, an audit of several peer schools’ value statements, conversations with the Executive Leadership Team about essential components, and drafting of a test revision. Throughout the spring, a total of 14 focus group sessions were held across campus, which included three student meetings, two Board of Trustees committees, and nine faculty and staff meetings. About 40 students and 100 faculty and staff participated in these sessions. Feedback from the focus groups was gathered and analyzed and used to create a final revision. The Board of Trustees approved the new statement at its June 14 meeting.
Dean Daniel Ott facilitated the re-envisioning. “The campus conversation about shared values was an inspiring process,” he said. “Our students, faculty, staff, and supporters love EMU. This process gave them an opportunity to name and articulate the values that drive our work.”
EMU’s previous values statement read: “EMU’s mission and vision are grounded in the enduring biblical values of Christian discipleship, community, service, and peace.”
For more information about EMU’s 2023-28 strategic plan, Pathways of Promise: Preparing Tomorrow’s Unifying Leaders, visit: emu.edu/president/strategic-plan
To Dean Daniel Otto,
Thanks for all the hard work and many persons involved in revising the values statement of EMU. I found it amazing that it took 138 words to state the current values when the last statement uses 18 words. I find that you have removed the fact that your current values are based on biblical values, only “shaped by the teachings of Jesus and Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs. Are all religious beliefs given equal value and freedom to hold a chapel service? Do you still consider EMU to be a biblically based Christian university? I feel this new statement is rather ambiguous and was probably intended to be so. I am sorry if that is the case. My wife graduated from EMU and I attended one year and we are concerned about the future of EMU. Thanks for listening, Dave and Phyllis Gingrich