Mission
The Mission of the Edgewood College Biological Sciences Department is to prepare all our students to be well-informed citizens and leaders in a world that is increasingly shaped by science and technology. Based on Sinsinawa Dominican values, we aim to instill in all our students an understanding of, and a life-long enthusiasm for, the process of scientific discovery and a commitment to the responsible application of science. We are committed to innovation and excellence in our programs, and to preparing our majors to be successful in science-related careers that are vital for meeting future local, national, and global needs.
Vision Statements
- We are a community of broadly trained faculty and staff, with individual expertise in diverse areas of the Biological Sciences, who are dedicated to teaching and scholarship. We are actively engaged in our disciplines, the department, the college, the wider community, and in a continuous quest to understand the natural world.
- We value teaching as an active, creative, and scholarly activity in the Biological Sciences Department. We support interdisciplinary, integrative teaching and learning through collaborations with other faculty, academic programs, and student services. Through these collaborations, students develop the ability to integrate knowledge, methods, and perspectives from multiple disciplines in the Sciences, Arts, and Humanities.
- We provide challenging and motivating scientific experiences that instill a lifelong interest in and appreciation of science while accommodating the diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and interests of our students.
- We are committed to an active, inquiry approach to learning through the process of doing science research. Students are challenged to construct knowledge as they engage in active, collaborative student/faculty research projects.
- We guide our students in developing scientific literacy, including the ability to: observe the natural world; pose and pursue questions; evaluate data using logic and an understanding of methods in data collection and analysis; read with understanding science articles in the popular press; critically analyze sources of scientific information; clearly communicate information orally and in writing; use scientific knowledge to inform reasoned judgments and sound decision making.
- We lead our students in developing a sense of social and environmental responsibility through participation in meaningful dialogue and science outreach activities that extend from the local campus to the global environment. Students use their scientific knowledge to help address questions and issues around the nature of a just and humane society and the role that science can play in contributing to social integrity and ecological sustainability. Students develop a deep understanding of and respect for the complexity and interdependence of the natural systems of which humanity is a part.
- We strive to prepare our students for their future by helping them set personal and professional goals and by providing them with the knowledge, experiences, and professional opportunities necessary to reach those goals.