The Seven Ideals of CIIS
1. Practices an integral approach to learning and research. The Institute facilitates the integration of body-mind-spirit. It values the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, creative, somatic, and social dimensions of human potentiality. Students are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to learning by complementing their specialized program of study with courses in other departments.
2. Affirms spirituality. The Institute is committed to the study and practice of multiple spiritual traditions and to their expression and embodiment throughout all areas and activities of the Institute community.
3. Commits to cultural diversity. Promoting a dialogue of difference, the curriculum reflects a commitment to the diversity of the world's cultures and spiritual traditions while seeking their holistic integration.
4. Fosters multiple ways of learning and teaching. The Institute honors many learning modalities and ways of knowing-intuition, body-knowledge, creative expression, intellect, and spiritual insight.
5. Advocates feminism and sustainability. The Institute embraces intellectual, cultural, and spiritual traditions that further the effectiveness of emancipatory movements such as feminism, social and political liberation, cultural self-expression, and ecological activism.
6. Supports community. Community at the Institute is understood to be founded upon an underlying core of values that affirm shared understandings and differences, scholarly efforts, and humane concerns. Such community is a vital part of the Institute's effort to provide an effective, visionary, and nurturing environment for study and training.
7. Strives for an integral and innovative governance. The Institute recognizes the importance of a mode of governance that would eliminate, or at least reduce, the polarities and fragmentation that typically plague institutions. As with other ideals, integral governance is difficult both to formulate and to practice. This ideal stands among the seven as a constant challenge and encouragement to try new forms, procedures, criteria, and language as aids to a more shared and collaborative decision-making process.
