Santa Monica College offers robust educational programs and support services that assist students in the development of skills needed to succeed in college, prepare for careers and transfer, and nurture a lifetime commitment to learning. The College provides an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that supports intellectual exploration and helps students achieve their educational goals. As a proud minority-serving institution, the College works to eliminate racial equity gaps and recognizes the critical importance of each individual's contribution, ensuring that each person feels seen, affirmed, and valued.
Santa Monica College will be a leader and innovator in college transfer, career preparation, upward mobility, and lifelong learning. We will provide an inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education designed to transform the lives of our students, their families, and the community.
As an institution committed to the free exchange of ideas, Santa Monica College will foster its core values: knowledge, intellectual inquiry, research-based planning and evaluation, integrity, accountability, ethical behavior, democratic processes, communication and collaboration, civic engagement, global citizenship, and sustainability.
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 lifestyle; 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.