Mission
SHIMER COLLEGE FORMERLY PROVIDED AND PRESERVED EDUCATION CENTERED ON DISCUSSION OF ENDURING QUESTIONS AND ISSUES. HISTORICALLY INFLUENTIAL ORIGINAL SOURCES WERE STUDIED THROUGH SOCRATIC QUESTIONING IN SMALL SEMINAR CLASSES, FOLLOWING THE KIND OF GREAT BOOKS CURRICULUM ADVOCATED BY ROBERT MAYNARD HUTCHINS. THE CORE VALUES INFORMING EDUCATION AT SHIMER WERE FREE INQUIRY, DIALOG, CRITICAL OPEN-MINDEDNESS, AND INTEGRATION OF DISCIPLINES. THE COLLEGE OFFERED ALL MEMBERS OF ITS COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN DECIDING THE FUTURE OF THE INSTITUTION. A SHIMER EDUCATION DEMANDED MUCH OF BOTH THE INTELLECT AND THE CHARACTER OF STUDENTS, AND PREPARED THEM FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP AND THE EXAMINED LIFE. ON JUNE 1, 2017 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE PURCHASED MOST OF LIQUID ASSETS OF SHIMER COLLEGE AND FORMED THE SHIMER GREAT BOOKS SCHOOL.