Mission

Founded in 1916 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the mission of St. Joseph's University, New York is to provide a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, rooted in a liberal arts tradition that supports provision for career preparation and enhancement. While proud of its Catholic tradition, St. Joseph's is independent and coeducational, offering an affordable private education that serves a diverse population of academically eligible students.

The University prepares each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service; a life that is worthy of our motto: Esse non videri — “To be, not to seem.”

St. Joseph's University holds closely the aforementioned five key values, which occupy the core of the institution’s personality. The institution views intellectual rigor and spiritual depth as key components of a liberal arts education. Along with this, St. Joseph's places a high priority on personal integrity, and emphasizes putting its values into action by helping students develop a strong sense of social responsibility and inculcating within them a keen desire to serve others. A further articulation of these values is reflected in The Five Pillars of St. Joseph's University.

To accomplish this, St. Joseph's University has established the following goals:

• To offer curricula that foster the knowledge and intellectual skills associated with the liberally educated person
• To encourage students to develop personal value systems and responsible self-direction
• To foster committed participation in the local and global communities
• To help students develop as whole persons by providing individual attention, interactive teaching and opportunities for active participation in academic and extracurricular programs
• To prepare students for their careers by offering the necessary professional and pre-professional education
• To provide for the needs of a diversified student population with varied educational and professional experiences
• To foster an environment of openness to the exploration and understanding of diverse ideas, traditions and cultures
• To support educational programs and services that will contribute to the vitality of the communities served by the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses