To carry out its mission, the Center:

Student Formation: Assists students in holistic development by helping them connect their intellectual, spiritual, and leadership capacities for service to the world around them; provides resources for them to accomplish "hands on" projects aimed at increasing student advocacy leadership, ethical reflection, and service skills; and emphasizes ethical leadership and day-to-day decision making. The Center seeks to challenge and encourage the development of ethical discernment, imagination, and action among students.

Curricular and Faculty Development: Supports the creation of undergraduate, graduate and professional-school courses in practical ethics and leadership studies and assists university faculty in researching ethical issues, bringing that research into their classrooms, and integrating ethics with their community service.

National Dialogue: Addresses pertinent contemporary issues with conferences throughout the academic year. Local and national experts in their field stimulate discussion and thought with participants by sharing their insights and experiences across a wide range of topics.

Community Partnerships: Collaborates with civic, professional, and business organizations to offer university resources to build healthier communities in the DFW area and to provide students with internships and other personal and professional growth opportunities.

Research and Publication: Participates in the burgeoning national commitment to "university citizenship" through research and publication on ethics and leadership to promote Southern Methodist University as a key voice in national conferences on leadership, service, and ethics-related scholarship and education.

Public Virtue Recognition: Honors community citizens who exemplify the spirit of moral leadership and public virtue.