Santa Monica College provides a safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment that encourages personal and intellectual exploration — one that challenges and supports students in achieving their education goals. Students learn to contribute to the local and global community as they develop an understanding of their relationship to diverse social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and natural environments. The College recognizes that each individual makes a critical contribution to the achievement of this mission.
Santa Monica College’s academic and career programs and support services are intended to serve diverse individuals from local, national, and global communities who are seeking high-quality, affordable undergraduate education. The College offers certificates, Associate degrees, a baccalaureate degree, and streamlined pathways for transfer to university and for career training. The College promotes commitment to lifelong learning among students and the communities it serves.
To fulfill this mission, Santa Monica College has identified the following Institutional Learning Outcomes and supporting goals.
Institutional Learning Outcomes
Santa Monica College students will:
- Acquire the self-confidence and self-discipline to pursue their intellectual curiosities with integrity in both their personal and professional lives;
- Obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to access, evaluate, and interpret ideas, images, and information critically in order to communicate effectively, reach conclusions, and solve problems;
- Respect the inter-relatedness of the global human environment, engage with diverse peoples, acknowledge the significance of their daily actions relative to broader issues and events;
- Assume responsibility for their own impact on the earth by living a sustainable and ethical life style; and
- Demonstrate a level of engagement in the subject matter that enables and motivates the integration of acquired knowledge and skills beyond the classroom.
Supporting Goals
Innovative and Responsive Academic Environment
- Continuously develop curricular programs, learning strategies, and services to meet the evolving needs of students and the community.
Supportive Learning Environment
- Provide access to comprehensive student learning resources such as library, tutoring, and technology;
- Provide access to comprehensive and innovative student support services such as admissions and records, counseling, assessment, outreach, and financial aid.
Stable Fiscal Environment
- Respond to dynamic fiscal conditions through ongoing evaluation and reallocation of existing resources and the development of new resources.
Sustainable Physical Environment
- Apply sustainable practices to maintain and enhance the College’s facilities and infrastructure including grounds, buildings, and technology.
Supportive Collegial Environment
- Employ decision-making and communication processes that respect the diverse needs of the entire college community.