Mission & Core Values

Roger Williams University is an independent university that combines the unique strengths of small liberal arts colleges and those of larger comprehensive universities and where liberal and professional education are enhanced by their integration and the recognition of their unity.

At the foundation of the institution is a set of core values that play a central role in guiding a respectful, diverse and intellectually vibrant university community:

• Love of learning as an intrinsic value
• Preparation for careers and future study
• Collaboration of students and faculty in research
• Commitment to community through service and sustainability
• Appreciation of global perspectives
• Promotion of civil discourse

The Roger Williams University Education

The University strives to educate all students to become productive citizens of the social and professional communities in which they will live and build their careers. To participate in a lifetime of such citizenship, it is the goal of Roger Williams University to prepare our students to:

• Communicate clearly in a variety of formats
• Appreciate the ability of the humanities to stir the soul
• Advocate effectively through civil discourse
• Acquire new information and perspectives through traditional research techniques and the use of information technology
• Contribute productively in team projects through leadership and cooperative efforts
• Understand how different cultures, philosophies and historical experiences affect the perspectives of others

Legacy of Roger Williams (1604 - 1684)

Roger Williams, founder of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, was the first major figure in colonial America to argue forcefully the need for democracy, religious freedom, and for the understanding of America's native cultures. Roger Williams University has dedicated itself to principles advocated by our namesake: education, freedom and tolerance. Through his scholarship in language, theology and law, Williams' life reflected the value of learning and teaching. The University honors his legacy by modeling a community in which diverse people and diverse ideas are valued, intellectual achievement is celebrated and civic responsibility is expected.