Defining Our Terms

As critical thinkers, we seek to engage with the mission and vision statements of the institution with a deeper understanding. To that end, we're unpacking some of the terms invoked. These definitions are intended to represent what Illinois Wesleyan University means by these terms across its web pages and communications.

Footnote on mission statement: In the context of higher education, "liberal" derives from the Latin liberales meaning "free" or "relating to freedom," not the modern political sense, and democratic refers to a system of government by the people, not a U.S. political party.

1. belonging / inclusion — feeling accepted, respected and valued as part of a group or community
   
   
2. campus culture —  the beliefs, values, behaviors and practices that characterize the people and experience of Illinois Wesleyan. IWU believes in treating all individuals with respect and civility, and in fostering the capacities for conflict management, civil discourse and empathy that enable people of different backgrounds to form a community of Titans
   
   
3. civil discourse — engaging in an open exchange of ideas with curiosity and respect for other viewpoints
   
   
4. co-curricular — activities and programs that work together with those inside the classroom to enhance students' learning
   
   
5. comprehensive worldview — a holistic framework for understanding the complex interplay between cultural, social, historical and economic factors in shaping different parts of the world
   
   
6. critical thinking — the ability to analyze information objectively and form a reasoned judgment; it involves questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and considering different perspectives to arrive at well-supported conclusions. At Illinois Wesleyan, our work is to teach students how to think, not what to think.
   
   
7. democratic citizenship — membership and active engagement of individuals in a system of government where the people have a say in how they are governed
   
   
8. diversity — a commitment to ensuring that our campus community values and respects a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, regardless of protected category
   
   
9. engaged citizens — individuals who actively participate in their community and society, taking an interest in local, national and/or global issues and contributing to positive change
   
   
10. environmental sustainability — managing natural resources and ecosystems in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
    
    
11. global society — a world where people from different countries share an interconnected economy, interdependent political landscape, and elements of culture that transcend national boundaries
    
    
12. interdisciplinary study — integrating knowledge and methods from multiple academic disciplines
    
    
13. liberal arts — a traditional academic course of study focused on developing a broad range of knowledge and critical thinking skills through the study of arts and humanities, natural and social sciences and mathematics
    
    
14. liberal education — liberal education promotes integration of learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum, and between academic and experiential learning, in order to develop learning outcomes that are essential for work, citizenship, and life. A liberal education at Illinois Wesleyan allows our students to discover the interconnectedness of knowledge through a challenging course of study beyond their majors. We place emphasis on developing their critical thinking and communications skills, strengthening their cultural literacy, and helping them to become more globally aware and ethically grounded.
    
    
15. multicultural — acknowledging the beliefs, values, behaviors and practices that characterize people's various experiences
    
    
16. pre-professional — programs that are focused on preparing students for specific professions, including those offered at IWU within the Schools of Business and Economics, Educational Studies, Music, Theatre and Nursing. At Illinois Wesleyan, our distinctive blend of pre-professional programs and broad-based liberal arts education produces graduates who are exceptionally well prepared for a changing workplace and lifelong learning.
    
    
17. social justice — a commitment to creating a campus environment where access to education, resources, and opportunities is available to all; where affordability of an education is addressed to reduce barriers to participation; and where civic engagement is encouraged as a means of empowering all members of the IWU community.
    
    
18. welcoming — exuding a warm and genuine invitation to all