Mission
Santa Monica College strives to create a learning environment that both challenges students and supports them in achieving their educational goals. Students learn to contribute to the global community as they develop an understanding of their personal relationship to the world's social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and natural environments.

To fulfill this mission, Santa Monica College provides open and affordable access to high quality associate degree and certificate of achievement programs.  These programs prepare students for successful careers, develop college-level skills, enable transfer to universities, and foster a personal commitment to lifelong learning.

Santa Monica College serves the world's diverse communities by offering educational opportunities which embrace the exchange of ideas in an open, caring community of learners and which recognize the critical importance of each individual's contribution to the achievement of the college's vision.

Vision and Core Values
Santa Monica College will be a leader and innovator in student learning and achievement.  Santa Monica College will prepare and empower students to excel in their academic and professional pursuits for lifelong success in an evolving global environment.

As a community committed to open inquiry that encourages dialog and the free exchange of ideas, Santa Monica College will serve as a model for students in the practice of its core values:  intellectual inquiry, research-based planning and evaluation, democratic processes, communication and collegiality, global awareness, and sustainability.