Mission and Values
Lifelong Responsibilities Towards God, Society, and Self
Holy Family University, a ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, offers education in the liberal arts and professions through graduate, undergraduate, and non-degree programs. As a Catholic University, Holy Family seeks direction and inspiration from the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, affirms the values of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and witnesses to the dignity of each person and the oneness of the human family. Holy Family University educates students to assume lifelong responsibilities towards God, society, and self.
Mission Core Values
The following core values inform the University as it seeks to carry out its mission.
Family
Holy Family University welcomes and cares for students, faculty, and staff as members of a diverse but interconnected family. A community united by a common mission, the University promotes an atmosphere of mutual concern and attention to the spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical needs of all those whom it serves.
Respect
Holy Family University affirms the dignity of the human person through openness to multiple points of view, personalized attention, and collaborative dialogue in the learning process and in the interaction among members of the University community. The University seeks to instill appreciation of and respect for differences so that its graduates can function successfully in multicultural contexts.
Integrity
Intent upon forming persons of integrity who recognize the importance of lifelong learning, Holy Family University advocates free and conscientious pursuit of truth and the responsible use of knowledge. It bases education upon a foundation in the liberal arts that highlights the humanities and the natural and social sciences. In keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church, concern for moral values and social justice guides the University in designing programs and activities.
Service & Responsibility
Holy Family University incorporates its motto, teneor votis ("I am bound by my responsibilities"), into curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs. Reflecting this motto, educational experiences at the University apply theory to practice and course content to serving human needs. The University educates individuals to become competent professionals and responsible citizens.
Learning
Holy Family University seeks to instill in its students a passion for truth and a commitment to seeking wisdom. It promotes values-based education, creative scholarship, informed and imaginative use of research and technology, and practical learning opportunities such as Experiential Learning programs. The University seeks to strengthen ethical, logical, and creative thinking; to develop effective communication skills; to nurture an aesthetic sense; and to deepen global, social, and historical awareness.
Vision
Holy Family University envisions learning as a dynamic and fruitful exchange between traditional sources of wisdom and contemporary developments in knowledge. Throughout the teaching and learning process the University seeks to embody Christian philosophical and theological perspectives. It offers an education grounded in a Judeo-Christian worldview that serves as a foundation upon which to address contemporary problems and to build a vision for the future.