Our Mission and Philosophy
Buffalo Seminary educates college-bound young women from diverse backgrounds in a vigorous and participatory environment that emphasizes development of character, intellectual independence, creativity, service and leadership for life. Sem strives to make each girl proud of her ability to shape society rather than to be controlled by it and to awaken each student to the opportunities available to women.
Since 1851, Buffalo Seminary has empowered young women to take their place in an ever-evolving global community. As a college preparatory school, Buffalo Seminary seeks to develop students' intellects, widen their perspectives, encourage active community involvement, and equip them for dynamic and purposeful lives. The curriculum is designed to ensure that the students will be well grounded in all of the traditional disciplines. Within these disciplines, girls are inspired to pursue patterns of rigorous thought, fruitful reflection, and clear expression as skills essential to a process of lifelong learning.
The program at Buffalo Seminary encourages students to recognize that every area of intellectual, cultural, and athletic endeavor is accessible. The required core provides Sem graduates with experience in the humanities and in the arts and sciences, and offers them opportunities to develop proficiencies that will enable them to adapt in a world of rapid technological change. Our richly varied program instills a lifelong appreciation for all of the fine arts and an expectation that physical activity will be a continuing part of students' lives.
Nonsectarian since its founding, Buffalo Seminary provides a setting in which mutual respect is a fundamental principle around which students learn to value people from diverse backgrounds and to accept others on their merits. Having developed this appreciation and awareness, they will be better equipped as adults to help forge connections across diverse communities. The social and academic honor system reflects the school's moral atmosphere with its expectation of trust, integrity, and respect.
At Sem, we encourage our young women to develop strong convictions and to stand alone, if necessary, for what they believe is right. These are the women of the twenty-first century; it is the school's intention to prepare them as they take their place as citizens and leaders in this exciting, challenging time.
