Mission
Missouri Western State University is a learning community focused on students as individuals and as members of society. Western offers students at all stages of life the opportunity to achieve excellence in the classroom and beyond, especially through applied learning, as they prepare to be leaders in their work and in their communities. As a leader itself, Western is committed to the educational, economic, cultural, and social development of the people and the region that it serves through applied research and professional and voluntary service.

Values
In fulfilling our mission and pursuing our vision, we the people of Missouri Western State University hold in common these values:

Service
We share the common purpose of serving students, one another, and the people of the region.

Quality
We are committed to the quality of our programs, our students, and our partnership with the people of the region.

Enthusiasm
We are enthusiastic about learning and confident that we can make a difference in the lives of students through their learning.

Freedom
We promote the free exchange of ideas that makes education liberating and democracy unique.

Respect
We act as individuals and as a campus community with respect for diversity and for the best in human potential.

Courage
We seek the challenge and adventure of shaping the future with an increasingly global perspective.