Ministry Testimonies

Based on the traditional Quaker testimonies of integrity, equality, community, simplicity, stewardship, and peace, our Wilmington College core values include integrity, community, diversity and respect for all persons, service and civic engagement, peace and social justice, and excellence. Individually and as a community, we use the following queries to reflect on how we meet these ideals.

Queries

What does it mean to be a Quaker college?
What does it mean to be a community?
What does it mean to live within a diverse community?
What does it mean to live with integrity?

Community:

What ideas about community do I bring to campus with me?
How do I share those ideas?
How do I respond when those ideas are not realized?
Do I recognize myself as a member of a community, not just as a student at the institution?
Do I feel some responsibility to contribute to the shaping of the Wilmington College community?
Do I realize that this community was founded by a community, the Religious Society of Friends?
What do I know about how Friends vision of higher education informs my educational experiences?
Am I consciously aware of the problems and prospects for my community?

Diversity and Respect for All Persons:

Do I try to understand other people’s viewpoints and perspectives with empathy even when they disagree with my own?
Do I treat all persons, regardless of position, with respect?
Are the programs, organizations, and activities that I am involved in consistent with valuing diversity and showing respect for all persons?

Excellence:

Is excellence defined strictly in terms of achievement?
What are sources for defining excellence at the College?
How do I demonstrate my commitment to excellence at the College?
How do I support classmates and teammates in developing excellence?
Do I hold myself to a different standard of excellence than I hold others?
Do I seek ways to be open to opinions and ideas, thereby strengthening my commitment to critical thinking, intellectual rigor, and truth-seeking?

Integrity:

Do I treat students, teachers, and other college employees honestly and fairly?
Do I speak the truth even when it is difficult and not in my best interest to do so?
Do I confront lapses in integrity in myself and others?
Am I careful to credit others, rather than taking credit for works and ideas not my own?
Do I make sure that those who deserve credit for works and ideas receive it?
Am I aware that cheating in classes, in games, or in sports is inconsistent with the testimony of integrity?
Do I eliminate in myself the practice of plagiarism, borrowing another’s work, lying, deceit, and excuse making?
Do I eliminate the practice of infidelity or disloyalty in personal relationships?
Do I avoid the illegal and/or harmful use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco?
Do I manage my commitments so that over-commitment, worry, and stress do not diminish my integrity?

Peace & Social Justice:

Do I seek nonviolent solutions to the resolution of conflict in all my personal relationships?
Do I seek win/win solutions to the resolution of conflict?
Do I work to take away the causes of conflict?
Am I aware and concerned about issues of social injustice in our community?
Do I work to take away the causes of social injustice?

Service and Civic Engagement:

Do I invest myself in consensus?
Do I value consensus decision-making as a vital practice in our community?
In seeking consensus, do I attempt to ensure all discussants are heard, understood, and sense that they have been treated honestly and fairly?
Do I avoid personal attacks?
Do I consider the needs of various groups that make up our community?
Do I seek to be open to a variety of opinions and ideas?
Do I question my priorities?
Am I a responsible steward of my time and talents?
In a public gathering, do I represent the College’s standards of behavior?