MISSION & POLICIES

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Mission Statement

The University of Delaware exists to cultivate learning, develop knowledge and foster the free exchange of ideas. State-assisted yet privately governed, the University has a strong tradition of distinguished scholarship, research, teaching and service that is grounded in a commitment to increasing and disseminating scientific, humanistic and social knowledge for the benefit of the larger society. Founded in 1743 and chartered by the state in 1833, the University of Delaware today is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant university.

The University of Delaware is a major research university with extensive graduate programs that is also dedicated to outstanding undergraduate and professional education. University faculty are committed to the intellectual, cultural and ethical development of students as citizens, scholars and professionals. University graduates are prepared to contribute to a global society that requires leaders with creativity, integrity and a dedication to service.

The University of Delaware promotes an environment in which all people are inspired to learn and encourages intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, free inquiry and respect for the views and values of an increasingly diverse population.

 

Statement of Responsibility

The University of Delaware community values both personal and academic freedom. All members of the campus community have the personal responsibility to promote an atmosphere of civility in which the free exchange of ideas and opinions can flourish. We do so by learning from individual and collective differences and by respecting every human being.

 

A Commitment
to Diversity

UD Policies &
Procedures Manual

 

The University of Delaware has a great tradition of excellence, from our founding as a small private academy in 1743, to the research-intensive, technologically advanced institution of today.

Our alumni tell our story of achievement, from our first class, which included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and one signer of the U.S. Constitution, to the more than 140,000 living Blue Hens who are making vital contributions to the world--in science, business, education, the arts, policy, health care, the environment, and many other areas.

The University received its charter from the State of Delaware in 1833 and was designated one of the nation’s historic Land Grant colleges in 1867. Today, UD is a Land Grant, Sea Grant and Space Grant institution. UD also is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a research university with very high research activity--a designation accorded to less than 3 percent of U.S. colleges and universities.

A state-assisted, privately governed institution, UD offers courses in a broad range of disciplines, including 4 associate’s programs, 130 bachelor’s programs, 79 master's programs and 39 doctoral programs through our seven colleges and in collaboration with more than 50 research centers. Our student body includes more than 16,000 undergraduates, 3,500 graduate students, and 1,000 students in professional and continuing studies from across the United States and around the world.

Among our distinguished faculty are internationally known authors, scientists and artists including Nobel Laureates, Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellows, members of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Pulitzer Prize winner.

State-of-the-art facilities support UD research, teaching, and public service activities. Our 146-foot coastal research vessel, Hugh R. Sharp, the most advanced in the United States, aids scientists across the region in exploring the sea. World-class figure skaters train in our Ice Skating Science Development Center. And partnerships with renowned Nemours/A. I. du Pont Hospital for Children, Christiana Care, Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, Longwood Gardens, and Hagley Museum offer students unparalleled experiences in cancer research to art conservation, horticulture, history and business.

Distinguished speaker series, symposia, 23 intercollegiate athletics programs, numerous intramural and club sports, more than 200 student organizations, concerts, exhibits, and other arts and cultural activities enrich campus life.

Thomas Jefferson once described Delaware as a "jewel" among states due to its strategic location on the East Coast, halfway between Washington, D.C., and New York City. Today, however, the location of Delaware's flagship university increasingly is being referred to as "halfway between Los Angeles and London."

In addition to our Georgian-inspired main campus in Newark, Delaware, UD has locations across the state--in Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, and Lewes--and teaching facilities in London and Paris. A thriving study-abroad program and expanding international partnerships further enhance our students' education as global citizens.

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