The University of Alabama has unveiled an updated version of the Capstone Creed, the first revision in nearly a decade and a milestone shaped by students through months of collaboration and reflection.
The newly revised Creed reads:
“As a member of The University of Alabama community, I will pursue knowledge; act with fairness, honesty, and respect; foster individual and civic responsibility; and strive for excellence.”
The revision was led by a committee made up of student leaders who spent nearly a year working alongside peers, faculty, and staff to ensure the updated Creed reflects the values of today’s UA community. Led by Hayden Phillips, a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, and Jordan Stokes, a junior from Montgomery, Alabama, the project focused on shaping a set of principles that would resonate with every student and ensure everyone felt represented.
“I feel like the Capstone Creed is one of those things that is everywhere, but it’s also nowhere,” said Hayden. “Something I think both of us found when we started this project with Dr. Hood, was that there was a need to make the Capstone Creed not only more accessible to students, so students can feel a deeper connection to it but also making sure that it exemplifies the voice of all students that come to UA.”
“It’s a statement for all students to feel included and know the values of the University and be a community,” Jordan added. “We want to make every student from every background feel included in the revision of the Capstone Creed.”
Their work included line-by-line reviews, student feedback sessions, meetings with administrators, and late-night brainstorms. Throughout the process, one principle guided them: this revision should be by students, for students.
“It has been a really intentional process. Getting to really pour our time and effort for not just ourselves, but for the greater student population and knowing that the Capstone Creed does influence you and does impact you whether you are a student, faculty or staff because it is a huge part of UA and its history and the legacy,” said Hayden.
The revised Creed will continue to play a central role at UA, with incoming students pledging to uphold it at the start of each academic year. But for the students who helped lead the change, the impact goes far beyond words.
“I think that looking at it from how it is going to affect students for years to come, and how it’s going to be the new normal, is just a really cool feeling knowing that we had a small piece in getting to be a part of UA’s mission for years to come,” said Hayden.
“It’s amazing being a part of UA history. Being a part of this has meant so much and it’s been rewarding too. You get to be a part of where legends are made, and we are continuing that by putting in the new revision into the Creed to make everyone feel included,” said Jordan.
For more information about the Capstone Creed and its history, visit The Capstone Creed.