Boston College: Mission, Values, and Enduring Commitments

Boston College (BC), a private Catholic Jesuit research university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, stands as a beacon of academic excellence and a testament to enduring values. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, BC has evolved from a small, commuter, liberal arts college into a coeducational, national, and increasingly international university. Throughout its history, Boston College has remained committed to its intellectual and religious roots, striving to be a world leader among Jesuit, Catholic universities.

A Historical Overview

Originally located in Boston's South End, Boston College moved its main campus to Chestnut Hill in 1907. This relocation was spearheaded by President Thomas I. Gasson, who envisioned a "city upon a hill," transforming BC into a center of Jesuit scholarship. The Chestnut Hill campus, a historic district, showcases early examples of collegiate gothic architecture in North America.

Over the decades, Boston College expanded its academic offerings, establishing various schools and colleges, including the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Law School, and the Woods College of Advancing Studies. While the university began conferring degrees on women in 1926, it became fully coeducational in 1970.

Core Mission and Values

Boston College's mission is deeply rooted in its Catholic and Jesuit tradition. The university is committed to:

Intellectual Inquiry and the Pursuit of Truth: BC is dedicated to rigorous academic standards, the discovery of knowledge, and quality teaching and learning.
Faith and Culture: As a Catholic university, Boston College serves as a meeting place between faith and culture, particularly Catholicism and contemporary society.
Jesuit Heritage: Inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, BC emphasizes service to others, social justice, and the development of the whole person-mind, body, and soul.

These commitments reflect Boston College's distinctive heritage and shape its mission and ethos. As stated in its mission, Boston College draws inspiration for its academic societal mission from its distinctive religious tradition. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, it is rooted in a world view that encounters God in all creation and through all human activity, especially in the search for truth in every discipline, in the desire to learn, and in the call to live justly together.

Strategic Vision: "Vision 2026"

Boston College High School, guided by "Vision 2026," concentrates on four key pillars: delivering a powerful formative student experience, deepening commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring access and affordability, and maintaining financial stability and sustainability.

Academic Excellence and Research

Strengthened by more than a century and a half of dedication to academic excellence, Boston College commits itself to the highest standards of teaching and research in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and to the pursuit of a just society through its own accomplishments, the work of its faculty and staff, and the achievements of its graduates.

Boston College's eight research libraries contain over two million printed volumes. Including manuscripts, journals, government documents and microform items, ranging from ancient papyrus scrolls to digital databases, the collections have some twelve million items. The Carroll School of Management at Boston College ranks among the world’s leading business schools. It offers a rigorous, transformative academic experience that integrates the study of management with the liberal arts, while developing critical thinking skills and fostering ethical leadership. Part of a vibrant, Jesuit, Catholic university, the Carroll School draws inspiration and direction from our centuries-old religious and intellectual heritage.

Campus Life and Traditions

Boston College offers a vibrant campus life enriched by numerous traditions and activities.

AHANA

AHANA is the term Boston College uses to refer to persons of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent. The term was coined at Boston College in 1979 by two students, Alfred Feliciano and Valerie Lewis, who objected to the name "Office of Minority Programs" used by Boston College at the time. They cited the definition of the word minority as "less than" and proposed, instead, to use the term AHANA which they felt celebrated social cultural differences. After receiving overwhelming approval from the university's board of trustees, and UGBC president Dan Cotter, the Office of Minority Student Programs became the Office of AHANA Student Programs.

Student Activities

BC provides a range of student-led publications, including The Gavel, an independent progressive student magazine launched on October 27, 2009, and The Torch, an independent Catholic student newspaper that publishes stories covering Catholic news on campus and around the world as well as student faith reflections.

Athletics

Boston College athletic teams are known as the Eagles. Their colors are maroon and gold and their mascot is Baldwin the Eagle. The Eagles compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports offered by the ACC. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East.

The university also offers other key facilities, such as Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at John Shea Field, which is the home field for baseball with a capacity of 1,000, and the Newton Soccer Complex, which seats 1,000 fans. The Eagle serves as the iconic mascot for Boston College, with the character Baldwin the Eagle representing this symbol of pride and tradition at football, hockey, and basketball games. "For Boston" is claimed to be America's oldest college fight song, composed by T. J. Hurley in 1885.

Financial Stewardship and Development

Under the presidency of William P. Leahy, Boston College experienced significant growth and development. In 2007, BC announced a $1.6 billion master plan for campus revitalization over ten years, aiming to enhance facilities and hire new faculty. The most recent and ongoing fundraising campaign, dubbed "Soaring Higher", was announced on September 28, 2023. The campaign aims to raise $3 billion, double the last campaign's goal.

Key Locations and Facilities

Campus Expansion

In 2017, Boston College acquired the 24-acre Mishkan Tefila Synagogue property in Chestnut Hill, which was previously used for administrative services and event parking. In 1975, Boston College merged with Newton College of the Sacred Heart. The Centre Street campus of the Newton College has since become housing for freshman of Boston College and the current location of the Boston College Law School. The Brookline campus is home to Messina College (formerly Pine Manor College), which includes several residence halls and other academic and athletic facilities.

Read also: History of the BU Bridge

Religious Spaces

The chapel for the university is located in St. Mary's Hall, the Jesuit residential facility. Additional BC chapels are Trinity Chapel on the Newton Campus, St. Joseph's Chapel in the Basement of Gonzaga Hall on Upper Campus, Simboli Hall Chapel on the Brighton Campus, and St. Catherine of Sienna Chapel in Cushing Hall.

Libraries and Museums

Before the Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Library opened in 1984, Bapst Library had served as BC’s main research facility since 1925. The McMullen Museum of Art, located on Boston College's Brighton campus, was established in 1993 and named in 1996 to honor John J. McMullen's parents. In 2016, it moved to a new facility with nearly double the exhibition space and enhanced features.

Social Responsibility and Community Engagement

Boston College is committed to fostering a just society through its actions, the work of its faculty and staff, and the achievements of its graduates. This commitment is reflected in various initiatives and programs aimed at addressing social issues and promoting community engagement.

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