With such a hectic campus community of activity, how do we stay focused? My response, with a smile, is that our focus at Barton College stays clearly in sight every minute of every day. You see, for us, Barton’s focus is always on serving our students.

And, how do we serve our students best? We prepare our students for a lifelong commitment to learning, service, and achievement. That’s how we express our vision and our commitment. It’s what we design our strategic plan around, it’s how we define the Barton Experience for our students, and it drives all of our decisions here at Barton College.

When we say that our role is “inspiring futures” by “turning beliefs into accomplishments,” we mean what we say. It is our promise to provide our students with the tools and support to maximize their potential, both in the classroom and beyond. After all, it is all about our students.

One way we are “inspiring futures” for our students is by helping them to believe in themselves and, then, helping them turn those beliefs into accomplishments. Our students succeed academically and socially because our approach to learning allows them to build strong, lasting relationships with other students, and with faculty and staff. Our faculty serves not only as teachers, but also as mentors and guides for lifelong learning. This is the foundation of the Barton Experience.

Barton College has documented that our students meet and exceed national standards for communication skills and critical thinking. But we do more than that. We have a long tradition of supporting our students as they participate in building and sustaining relationships and partnerships on-campus and off-campus.

The number of opportunities to take on leadership roles in campus organizations at Barton is unique. Biology majors take leading roles in drama productions, religion majors organize Habitat for Humanity projects, an education major started a recycling club, and the list goes on. Our emphasis on making intellectual, social, and professional connections adds value to the learning experience and it builds community. And, building community creates strong graduates capable of taking on the many challenges they will face.

We invite you to join us. For you as a student, Barton College provides a safe environment in which to discover your life's purpose and how to achieve it. You will have the support of a community of friends, mentors, and teachers all committed to helping you exceed your highest expectations. You will grow beyond your own imagination.

Norval C. Kneten
President