University Mission Statement

The central mission of the University of Delaware is to cultivate both learning and the free exchange of ideas. To this end, the University provides excellent undergraduate and graduate courses of study in a variety of disciplines. Our graduates should know how to reason critically and independently yet collaborate productively. They should understand the cultural and physical world, communicate clearly in writing and speech, and develop into informed citizens and leaders. The University faculty has a strong tradition of distinguished scholarship, research, and teaching, which is grounded in a commitment to increase scientific, humanistic, and social knowledge for the enrichment of the larger society. A state-assisted, privately-governed institution, the University of Delaware was founded as a private academy in 1743, received its collegiate charter from the state in 1833, and was designated one of the nation's historic land-grant colleges in 1867. The University works cooperatively with the area's unique cultural and technical institutions; it provides the finest library in the state and offers the region's people a rich array of public lectures, exhibitions, performances, service programs, and athletic competitions. The University strives for an atmosphere in which all people feel welcome to learn, embracing creativity, critical thinking, and free inquiry, and respecting the views and values of an increasingly diverse population.