Mission and Vision
Our Mission
To teach, to learn, to create, to discover, to inspire, to empower and to serve.
In fulfilling this mission, the University supports undergraduate, graduate and professional learning as well as basic research and its application in service to others.
As a university committed to excellence and innovation, Mercer challenges members of its community to meet and exceed high standards in their teaching, learning, research, scholarship and service.
Founded by Baptists in 1833, Mercer is an independent university that remains grounded in a tradition that embraces freedom of the mind and spirit, cherishes the equal worth of every individual, and commits to serving the needs of humankind. As a reflection of this heritage:
- We encourage our students to discover and develop fully their unique combination of gifts and talents to become leaders who make a positive difference in the world.
- We seek to inspire members of our community to live virtuous and meaningful lives by using their gifts and talents to serve the needs of humankind as an expression of their love for God and neighbor.
- We seek to enrich the mind and spirit by promoting and facilitating an open and rigorous search for truth and understanding, including an examination of the moral, religious and ethical questions of this and every age.
- We affirm and respect the dignity and sacred worth of every person and celebrate both our commonalities and our differences.
Our Vision
To change the world, one student at a time.
The Mercer Difference
Mercer’s uniqueness is found in the way the University integrates five defining components of its mission:
Liberal Learning
By studying the best that has been created and discovered in the sciences, arts and humanities, liberally educated women and men learn to think for themselves and seek excellence. Liberal learning at Mercer engages undergraduate students in research and scholarship, emphasizes leadership and service, offers students cutting-edge interdisciplinary programs of study, and provides intensive preparation for the professions.
Professional Knowledge
Mercer is a leader in equipping students with the professional knowledge they need for rewarding and successful vocations. Whether it is preparing undergraduate liberal arts students for advanced study or a career or educating future ministers, performing artists, attorneys, entrepreneurs, engineers, educators, physicians and other health care practitioners through its professional schools and colleges, Mercer offers a comprehensive set of educational options.
Discovery
Great universities generate new discoveries that add to the world’s body of knowledge. A Mercer distinctive is the interdisciplinary nature of research that promotes collaboration across schools and colleges. This kind of integrative research is critical to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. Because of Mercer’s array of academic programs and a culture that promotes collaboration, the University is well positioned to make important discoveries that impact lives.
Service to Humankind
A Mercer hallmark since its founding has been service to others, which is rooted in our faith-based mission. The University was a pioneer in service-learning, integrating volunteerism and curricula long before the term came into vogue and was embraced by many other institutions. Service to humankind is ingrained in the Mercer culture. This commitment to service led Princeton Review to name Mercer as one of its “Colleges with a Conscience.”
Community
Community has meaning on two levels at Mercer — internal and external — and in both the University excels. Students, faculty and staff relate to one another in an environment that inspires collaboration, support and respect. The external community — cities and neighborhoods where students, faculty and staff live and serve — is also important at Mercer, which invests in areas near and far from campus.