The mission of Pierce is to provide a holistic education that forms intellectually independent, morally responsible, and socially engaged global citizens, equipped to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving technological, social, and cultural world. “Non ministrari sed ministrare” (“Not to be served but to serve”) defines our institutional character and aspiration for our students to serve for wise change.

Pierce students are educated to be leaders who are:

• Aware of global challenges, connecting across cultures and generations
• Committed to working for justice and positive change
• Open in their thinking, able to communicate clearly with ethical influence
• Appreciative of the riches that diversity and equity bring
• Able to develop unique and sustainable solutions to real-world problems with awareness of their impact on communities and ecosystems

Pierce students are nurtured to be intellectually independent learners who are:

• Knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects and evolving literacies
• Critical thinkers who navigate information landscapes with care
• Creative and adaptive to new challenges
• Able to conduct their own self-reliant research
• Excited by discovery and lifelong learning
• Prepared for the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of the challenges they will encounter in their studies, work, personal lives, and broader society 

Pierce students are inspired to be:

• Resilient and hard-working, committed to growth and engaging with challenges
• Persistent, tenacious, and brave to take intellectual risks
• Collaborative, working effectively with others as globally connected citizens
• Honest, compassionate, and empathetic, communicating with integrity for positive change
• Confident and influential personalities who act with a strong sense of ethics and personal responsibility