Capstone Creed
The Capstone Creed is a document expressing the core values shared by all members of the University of Alabama community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and supporters. It reflects the values expressed in the University's mission statement. It was drafted in spring 2000 by the Student Leaders Council and implemented over the next several years.
In its original form, it read:
As a member of The University of Alabama community, I will pursue knowledge; act with fairness, integrity and respect; foster civic responsibility; and strive for excellence.
The history and meaning of the creed are included in the curriculum of the CIS 100 "Freshman Compass" course in its "Bama Bound" freshman orientation program. It is then read aloud by all new students during first-year convocation. It also appears in many class syllabi as a reminder about expected behavior, and is referenced in accreditation applications prepared by the university and its various schools. In addition, the creed is the focus of "Capstone Creed Week" in the spring, organized by the Student Life Leadership Council, the Division of Student Life and the Office of Student Conduct. The event includes awareness programs, film screenings, giveaways, volunteer projects, and social activities promoted with the "#BAMACREED" social media tag.
In 2016 the phrase "promote equity and inclusion" was added to the creed. The call to "foster civic responsibility" was amended to include "individual" responsibility, and the phrase "in all I do" was added to emphasize value-guided action. The changes were proposed by the Student Leadership Council and approved by the Office of Student Affairs. The new creed was introduced during Honors Week that April.
As a member of The University of Alabama community, I will pursue knowledge; act with fairness, integrity and respect; promote equity and inclusion; foster individual and civic responsibility; and strive for excellence in all I do.
In 2019, then Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Kathleen Cramer and other administrators expressed an interest in working with the Student Government Association, "to ensure it reflects and relates to the student body of today." SGA senators Ellen Walton and Olivia Davis hosted meetings with several campus organizations. It was noted that the one-sentence statement was much shorter than the creeds used at other Southern universities. The effort, dubbed the Capstone Creed Initiative, did not result in any immediate changes to the creed.
Following the passage of Act of Alabama 2024-34, the "Anti-DEI Act" on March 20, 2024 a move was made by a group of students to "to align the Capstone Creed with state law and to maintain its representation of our core values as a University community." Specifically, they proposed to replace the phrase "promote equity and inclusion" with "embrace and uphold the dignity of all." The Division of Student Life solicited feedback about the proposal in November 2024.
References
- Nichols, Megan (February 18, 2004) "Leaders Council works on implementing creed, developing UA entrance." The Crimson White, Vol. 110, No. 93, pp. 1-2
- Stalnaker, Deidre (April 4, 2016) "UA Students Update Capstone Creed." UA News Center
- McLean, Madison (November 26, 2019) "SGA holds forum to reform Capstone Creed." The Crimson White
- Yuh, Honorine Ntoh (Fall 2020) "Home away from home: What international students bring to UA." The Crimson White / Horizons, p. 19
- Morris, Williesha (March 15, 2025) "Alabama student group says university allowed change to anti-discrimination rules." AL.com