Mission Statement of Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College provides an accessible, innovative and inclusive education that prepares students to navigate and succeed in our ever-changing world.
Vision
Advancing a vibrant, diverse community through education, learner by learner.
Values
Collaboration: We are dedicated to creating an atmosphere of professionalism, where all stakeholders can share their ideas, work together and support one another in our common goal of student success.
Communication: We openly and honestly share information that impacts our work, include stakeholders in the decision-making process and ensure a collective approach to shared goals that relies on ongoing feedback from students, faculty, staff and community members.
Inclusion: We commit to fostering a diverse college community that respectfully embraces and affirms individual perspectives and identities to create an environment that promotes inclusion and equity for all.
Innovation: We meet the challenges of today and tomorrow by creating a culture built on creativity, ingenuity and agility, where people are empowered to continuously improve our processes and perspectives to exceed community needs and expectations.
Respect: We treat each other with kindness, assume positive intent and genuinely listen to each other to celebrate our individual differences and foster our collective strengths.
Student Success: We strive to serve our students and support their growth, providing them with equitable access to all services, support and the tools necessary to achieve their personal, professional and educational goals.
Mission of the Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education
Massachusetts Public Higher Education is a SYSTEM with a distinguished past, increasing and measurable accomplishments, and dedicated to being recognized as having one of the nation’s most outstanding array of institutions. It comprises 15 community colleges, nine state colleges, and five campuses of the University of Massachusetts. The system exists to provide accessible, affordable, relevant, and rigorous programs that adapt to meet changing individual and societal needs for education and employment. The public system is committed to continuous improvement and accountability in all aspects of teaching and learning. The Department of Higher Education, together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.
Mission of the Community Colleges
The 15 Massachusetts community colleges offer open access to high quality, affordable academic programs, including associate degree and certificate programs. They are committed to excellence in teaching and learning, and provide academic preparation for transfer to four-year institutions, career preparation for entry into high demand occupational fields, developmental coursework, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Community colleges have a special responsibility for workforce development and through partnerships with business and industry, provide job training, retraining, certification, and skills improvement. In addition, they assume primary responsibility in the public system for offering developmental courses, programs, and other education services for individuals who seek to develop the skills needed to pursue college-level study or enter the workforce.
Rooted in their communities, the colleges serve as community leaders, identifying opportunities and solutions to community problems and contributing to the region’s intellectual, cultural and economic development. They collaborate with elementary and secondary education and work to ensure a smooth transition from secondary to post-secondary education. Through partnerships with baccalaureate institutions, they help to promote an efficient system of public higher education.
The community colleges offer an environment where the ideas and contributions of all students are expected. Academic and personal support services are provided to ensure that all students have an opportunity to achieve academic and career success. No eligible student shall be deprived of the opportunity for a community college education in Massachusetts because of an inability to pay tuition and fees.