Mission & Purpose – California Institute of Science

Our Mission

CIS provides flexible, high-quality and continuous learning opportunities for self-learning adults. Vision, persistence, bravery, and challenge are the soul of CIS.

Our Purpose

The California Institute of Science was founded for the purpose of providing diverse and alternative methods of achieving a continuing education of the highest quality for mature adults.

To this end, the Institute seeks:

To provide learning opportunities of appropriate level and composition consistent with the aspirations of our students, the public welfare, and the highest qualitative standards of international training education.
To make available educationally valid learning opportunities which serve as alternatives to college classroom study and which are appropriate to the varied needs and learning styles of adults.
To develop and implement processes for the valid and reliable assessment of experiential and extra-collegiate college-level learning, and to provide appropriate academic recognition for knowledge so identified consistent with high standards of quality and rigor.
To serve higher education and the public interest as a center of innovation, information, policy formulation and advocacy on behalf of adult learners.
To fulfill the public service obligation inherent to American institutions of higher education.
To conduct its affairs in a manner which acknowledges the maturity, autonomy, and dignity of its students; assures a portal of access to higher education for adult learners; and celebrates the values, diversity and high qualitative standards of American higher education.