The aim of Flagler College is to provide a supportive and challenging environment in which students acquire knowledge, exercise good citizenship, and adhere to high ethical standards.
The principal focus of the College's academic program is undergraduate education in selected liberal and pre-professional studies; thus, the role of teaching is central to the College's mission.
The purposes of the academic program are to provide opportunities for general and specialized learning; to assist students in preparing for careers; and to aid qualified students in pursuing graduate and professional studies.
The objectives of the student life program at Flagler are to establish appropriate standards of conduct and to promote activities that will contribute to the development of self‑discipline, integrity, and leadership.
Flagler College was established as a memorial to Henry M. Flagler. The Hotel Ponce de Leon, built by Mr. Flagler, serves as a reminder of his enterprise, diligence, and commitment to high standards. The College is pledged to the preservation and use of this facility and other historic and architecturally unique campus structures.
Consistent with Flagler's unique mission are several characteristics which collectively define the specific nature of the College. These distinctive characteristics, listed below, help to distinguish Flagler College from other institutions of higher learning.
Flagler College is small. With a planned enrollment of approximately 2.050 students, the College strives to develop those desirable qualities which smallness fosters. Among these qualities are civility, integrity, loyalty, dependability, and affection. Since its founding in 1968, the College has sought to offer its students stimulating learning opportunities within the context of a small college environment. Experience has shown that the frequency and quality of faculty-student contacts are increased at a small college. Also, students are more inclined to become involved with student government, to assume leadership positions, and to participate in various extracurricular activities.
Flagler College offers a limited number of academic programs. Flagler recognizes that, as a small college, it must concentrate its resources among a limited number of carefully selected majors and minors to provide and maintain academic programs of high quality. The goals of academic program are to help students develop essential intellectual skills and proficiency in one or more fields of study. Through the general education program, students develop the skills to communicate effectively, to reason mathematically, to think critically, and to use computer and information technology productively. These are the skills that students need to be successful in college and to become lifelong learners.
Flagler College seeks a faculty dedicated to undergraduate teaching. To achieve its educational goals, the College seeks to attract and retain a professionally competent faculty dedicated to the art of teaching and advising, committed to high standards of performance, and concerned for the welfare of the College and its students. Faculty members are readily accessible and meet frequently with students outside the classroom.
Flagler College maintains high standards of personal conduct. The College's policies and regulations reflect its expectations with respect to the personal conduct of students, faculty, and staff. Civility, integrity, morality, and sensibility are deemed essential to the common life of the College and to the pursuit of its broad educational objectives.
Flagler College serves the full‑time, traditional college‑age student. The educational program at Flagler is intended to serve primarily the needs and aspirations of full-time students of those traditionally considered college age. More than 97 percent of the students attend on a full‑time basis and 88 percent fall within the 17-to-22 age cohort; approximately 38 percent of the students reside on campus in college housing.
Flagler College seeks to use community resources. Flagler is an integral part of the St. Augustine community and seeks to use the educational, cultural, and recreational resources of the community to enhance the quality of life and the quality of education at the College. The campus is surrounded by the city's restored area, national monuments, museums, libraries, and other historically significant facilities and sites.
Flagler College maintains unique campus structures. Ponce de Leon Hall is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and Markland House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation's official listing of sites and properties of historical and cultural significance. Since 1975, the College has invested more than $30 million in the development of its physical plant.
Flagler College practices prudent management of resources. In pursuit of its educational goals, the College recognizes that the resources committed to its use constitute a trust requiring prudent management and stewardship. Flagler strives to provide students with a quality education at a reasonable cost and to operate within a balanced budget. The attainment of these goals has enabled Flagler to achieve financial stability and has contributed greatly to the growth and progress of the College. The tuition and fees at Flagler are among the lowest in the nation for colleges, and the College's endowment supplements other resources necessary to support its educational programs, to maintain and preserve its facilities, and to sustain improvements in quality.
Flagler College provides a friendly campus environment. One of the more significant benefits of a small college is that it affords the opportunity for personal relationships among students, faculty, and staff. An atmosphere of friendliness and respect is encouraged throughout the College.