Academic Culture & Values

College of Arts & Sciences Academic Culture & Values Statement

The College of Arts & Sciences seeks to uphold an academic environment that promotes excellence and success for all students, staff, and faculty through open inquiry. We define "open inquiry" as respectful consideration of any reasoned idea, as well as of the people, perspectives, and ideas that reflect the heterogeneity of the United States and the world. Academic freedom is critical to this pursuit as enshrined in the William & Mary Faculty Handbook, Sections I and III.A, and in the William & Mary Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. We seek excellence and success in four domains: 

• The curriculum
• Student recruitment, retention, and support
• Faculty recruitment, retention, and support
• Academic climate and resources

 - Adopted by the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, September 2025