The Penn State Values

The Penn State Values are guidelines (not rules) that provide a set of values to help students make ethical choices in their daily lives.  Each Value is founded on academic values essential to the maintenance and flourishing of the Penn State community.

The Penn State Values

The Pennsylvania State University is a community dedicated to personal and academic excellence. The Penn State Values were developed to embody the values that we hope our students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni possess. At the same time, the University is strongly committed to freedom of expression. Consequently, these Values do not constitute University policy and are not intended to interfere in any way with an individual’s academic or personal freedoms. We hope, however, that individuals will voluntarily endorse these common principles, thereby contributing to the traditions and scholarly heritage left by those who preceded them, and will thus leave Penn State a better place for those who follow.

  • Integrity
    We act with integrity and honesty in accordance with the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards.
  • Respect
    We respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse and inclusive community.
  • Responsibility
    We act responsibly, and we are accountable for our decisions, actions, and their consequences.
  • Discovery
    We seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation, for the benefit of our communities, society, and the environment.
  • Excellence
    We strive for excellence in all our endeavors as individuals, an institution, and a leader in higher education.
  • Community
    We work together for the betterment of our University, the communities we serve, and the world.