Since its inception in 1852 under the leadership of Horace Mann, and since its rebuilding in 1920s under Arthur Morgan, Antioch has been known as an institution committed to innovative approaches to higher education, to an underlying set of social and educational values, and for its commitment to encouraging students to act on their values.
These innovations, almost all of which continue to this day in one form or another, were based on an educational philosophy characterized by:
- the integration of experiential and intellectual learning,
- a focus on the active student learner
- the integration of students and faculty into a community of learners, and
- a commitment to social justice by encouraging students to not only learn but to act on their values in order to create a more socially just world.
Following this tradition of innovation, a task force of 19 faculty and academic administrative leaders came together to develop ideas for new educational programs to deal with the technological and societal changes of the turn of the century. Among others, these discussions led to the creation of the idea for a Ph.D. program that would follow Antioch's educational philosophy, would build upon the new computer and communication technologies, would focus on practicing professionals rather than traditional academically oriented graduate students, and would maintain Antioch's long standing commitment to high quality standards. Thus, The Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program was founded.
"To learn to be human is to develop through the give-and-take of communication an effective sense of being an individually distinctive member of a community; one who understands and appreciates its beliefs, desires, and methods, and who contributes to a further conversion of organic powers into human resources and values."
(1859-1952)
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