2002-2003 - The University of Scranton

THE MISSION STATEMENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
Historical Prologue:
A comprehensive, co-educational institution, The University of Scranton is, by tradition,
choice and heartfelt commitment, a Catholic and Jesuit university. Founded in 1888 as
Saint Thomas College by the Most Reverend William G. O’Hara, D.D., the first bishop of
Scranton, it achieved university status in 1938, and was entrusted to the care of the Society
of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1942.
The Mission of the University:
The University of Scranton is a community of scholars whose ministry of education is
informed by the vision of life contained in both the Gospels and the Spiritual Exercises of
Saint Ignatius Loyola. The University is therefore dedicated to freedom of inquiry, the pursuit
of wisdom, integrity and truth, and the personal growth and development of all who
share in its life and ministry.
The Character of the University:
As a Catholic university, The University of Scranton sees in the teaching and example
of Jesus Christ the primary source for the values and attitudes that imbue the culture of
its campus. Thus, it seeks to communicate the fullness of the Catholic intellectual tradition
to its students in a systematic way. Moreover, in the ecumenical spirit that it has manifested
since its founding, the University invites faculty, staff and students from other religious
traditions to share in its mission.
As a Jesuit university, The University of Scranton provides its students with a nurturing
environment in which a value-laden curriculum challenges them to develop:
– a commitment to the value system contained in the Gospels,
– a principled respect for the dignity of the human person,
– a devotion to justice,
– a dedication to the service of the poor,
– a love of truth and a restless passion for learning.
Convinced that the search for truth necessarily involves the search for God, the
University also provides its students with opportunities for worship and spiritual development,
and for the academic study of theology, religion and religious experience.
As a university dedicated to education in the liberal arts, The University of
Scranton requires that all of its students complete a rigorous curriculum designed to foster
the development of their analytical and critical abilities. Thus, the core curriculum of the
University seeks to impart to students a knowledge of scientific principles, methods and
skills, an appreciation of literary and artistic expression, an awareness of historical perspectives,
and an understanding of religious, philosophical and moral values.
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