From the early days of Caney School, now Alice Lloyd College, The Purpose Road Philosophy was taught by Alice Lloyd and June Buchanan. It was originally created by George Herbert Palmer, a professor at Harvard University. Our founders’ burning desire was that each student would catch a vision of his or her purpose which would eventually manifest itself in world service.

Today, the ideals of The Purpose Road Philosophy permeate the educational process at Alice Lloyd College. All students work either on campus or in community outreach positions off campus. Good character is emphasized and supported. Even our main street is named Purpose Road; side streets, which include names such as Conscience, Duty, Courage, and Consecration, serve to remind us of the importance of ethical living. A life of service to God and Humanity is the desired result of one’s “walk” upon the Purpose Road.

The Purpose Road Philosophy manual includes the following passage:

By an inexorable law,
What we expect tends to come to us.
Facing life in the right way, we must have

A Purpose
A Goal
A Vision.

Then hold the thought and work toward it.
It will come as dawns the day.