The mission of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry is to educate health care professionals and educators, conduct research and provide patient care and rehabilitative services that advance the welfare of the public worldwide.

Institutional Goals

• It is the objective of the College to foster in students those attributes of intellectual curiosity, integrity, professionalism and caring for people. The College is committed to excellence in the pursuit of all its endeavors and to providing an environment which encourages learning and professional development through an open exchange of ideas.
• All segments of the College community join together on a continuing basis to identify the aims of the institution, specifically in terms of the needs of the near future. The following goals represent the fruits of that collective process:
• To provide programs worldwide that will prepare optometry students, optometry residents, optometrists, and related personnel to participate in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular and visual disorders, as well as the diagnosis of related systemic conditions and the enhancement of vision.
• To provide programs that will prepare audiology students and audiologists to fulfill and support an expanding role as hearing health care providers in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing and balance disorders.
• To provide programs that enhance the numbers and quality of professionals who provide services to individuals with visual impairment, and who assume leadership in education and rehabilitation worldwide.
• To recruit, admit, support, retain, graduate, and place a diverse student body, including historically underrepresented groups, with the highest ethical and academic qualities.
• To recruit, retain and continually develop a diverse and culturally competent faculty, administration and staff to assure excellence in the College's programs and services.
• To provide quality clinical services that support the College's education and research programs and are responsive to needs of the communities that we serve.
• To operate a fiscally sound institution through efficient and effective management and investment practices.
• To enhance institutional resources for the advancement of the College's mission.
• To conduct research and other scholarly activities that add to the body of knowledge in basic and applied sciences leading to improved health and educational services.
• To provide and support technology to improve productivity and quality of the College's programs.
• To develop and maintain facilities that are responsive to the College's mission and programs.
• To promote an awareness of the institution's programs and accomplishments and maximize the potential of its graduates and the professions they serve.
• To encourage College, community, professional and public service by the faculty, administration, staff, students and graduates.
• To explore, and if appropriate, obtain university status, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.