Skip Navigation

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

The mission of American Public University System is to provide high quality higher education with emphasis on educating the nation’s military and public service communities by offering respected, relevant, accessible, affordable, and student-focused online programs that prepare students for service and leadership in a diverse, global society.

Vision

American Public University System seeks to advance social, economic and environmental well-being through the transformative power of education with:

  • Dynamic, engaging, quality learning experiences;
  • Best-in-class student interfaces;
  • Diverse and career relevant degree programs;
  • Communities of lifelong learners and practice in selected disciplines;
  • Evaluation of transfer credit and competency-based learning;
  • Affordability relative to public institutions;
  • Strategic partnerships with key stakeholders; and,
  • Thought leadership that contributes to effective change in higher education.

Core Values

American Public University System is guided in fulfilling its mission by these shared principles and core values:

  • Learning The University System fosters an environment that promotes a life of learning for its constituents and uses feedback from its participants and supporters to improve the quality of its teaching, learning, and support.
  • Quality The University System holds a strong commitment to high standards in all aspects of its educational activities, learning outcomes, and support services. It seeks to continuously strengthen the overall effectiveness of its operations.
  • Integrity The University System conducts its operations and makes its public representations in an ethical manner. It assesses its operations in an open and collaborative manner and practices fairness, honesty, and objectivity in dealing with its constituencies.
  • Diversity The University System embraces and promotes diversity in its policies and practices to prepare its learners to live and work successfully in an increasingly diverse society. It strives to create diverse learning environments by welcoming teachers, learners, and staff that bring diverse ideas, values, backgrounds, and beliefs to the learning and work environment.
  • Freedom of Inquiry and Expression The University System supports the rights of its constituents to freely inquire and express their opinions. It engages and encourages an open exchange of ideas and seeks input from all who wish to participate in its learning programs.
  • Accountability The University System is accountable to its constituencies and the public for fulfilling its mission in an appropriate manner by openly assessing its operations and by inviting external evaluations by public agencies.
  • Access to Underserved The University System seeks to broaden access to its higher education programs by underserved communities who wish to engage the organization in their learning goals.
  • Adaptive and Responsive The University System anticipates and adapts to its changing environment and responds to the needs of the organization and its constituencies in manners both appropriate and timely.
  • Innovation The University System seeks imaginative and effective solutions to its challenges and innovative ways to fulfill its mission.
  • Collaboration The University System seeks and nurtures partnerships with its constituents and the communities it serves in creating effective learning environments for its learners.