Mission and Values

a group of students chatting in front of Clapp Library in the spring

Wellesley’s mission is to provide an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world.

Non Ministrari sed Ministrare. “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” is Wellesley's motto—four Latin words that capture the College’s dedication to service and to cultivating leadership.

We advance our mission by working together as a community—faculty, students, staff, and alumnae—guided by deeply held shared values.

Our Values 

Intellectual Discovery and Excellence

We believe in the transformative power of curiosity, learning, and teaching.

Gender Equality

As a women’s college, we have always been committed to gender equality as foundational to societal progress.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We affirm that diversity is essential to educational excellence, and we are committed to being a community in which each member thrives.

Connection and Community

We value the equal dignity of every member of the community and our sustained connection to one another, to our campus, and to our mission.

Empowerment and Social Change

We believe in the power and potential of our students and all members of our community to envision the world in which they want to live and to take action to make it real.

Integrity and Academic Freedom

We commit ourselves to high standards of personal and intellectual integrity, we embrace the principles of freedom and rigor in scholarly inquiry, and we assert the importance of holding to the truths such inquiry reveals.