Southern Oregon University

School mission (as provided by the school):

Southern Oregon University is becoming well-known as the public liberal arts university of the West. As a public university, we are committed to affordability and access. But, as a liberal arts institution, we offer a personalized experience and a curriculum that prepares students to be productive citizens, creative thinkers, and effective problem solvers. Our graduates thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The university is recognized for fostering intellectual creativity. At SOU, we don't simply encourage students to be creative. We surround students with a culture based on creative expression and critical thinking. We expose them to different points of view. We challenge conventional thinking. And we provide an open, inclusive environment where students are free to speak their minds.

Southern Oregon has a long tradition of doing things differently. Not following the established rules and traditions. Being open to innovative ideas and innovative ways of thinking. This rich environment of creative individuals spans all fields of study and provides a common ground for SOU students from around the world.

The local arts community, including the internationally acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival, inspires our creativity. But it's more than just the arts that tap into critical thinking. Our culture reflects a way of thinking that stretches boundaries. SOU embraces a creative spirit in the way we interact with students. The way we teach. The way we involve the community. The way we learn together.

We push ourselves, our students, and our community to find creative solutions to tomorrow's challenges. Together we're discovering new ways to think and finding new ways to make a difference.

At SOU, it's not business as usual. Any university can teach theory. To learn, explore, and discover what really matters, students need to make a connection. And that's exactly what happens at Southern Oregon University.

For SOU students, learning goes far beyond the classroom. SOU professors encourage students to put into practice what they are learning, preparing them to learn more deeply and make immediate contributions when they enter the work force.

Through connected learning experiences--including internships, mentor relationships, field study, capstone experiences, volunteerism, civic engagement--SOU students translate learning into meaning as they apply classroom theory to the world around them. Beyond their own learning, they can be leaders, a force for change in the community, bringing a fresh and informed perspective to real challenges.

That doesn't happen just anywhere. But then, southern Oregon isn't just anywhere.

SOU is situated in a unique geographic location that provides a special learning opportunity. Our mountains and rivers are more than just an impressive backdrop. They serve as laboratories and classrooms for outdoor leadership, environmental studies, science research, and hospitality and tourism. Our students don't just read about grazing rights, land management, water quality and wine production; they are out learning firsthand. The wild and scenic Rogue River, the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Crater Lake National Park, Redwood National Park, and the Deer Creek Center offer learning laboratories within an hour or two of campus.

It all comes naturally at SOU - fuel for the intellect, inspiration for the spirit.