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The following statements were adopted by the Harding University Board of Trustees in May 2024:
Our Mission
With Christ as Lord, Harding University transforms learners for global impact by engaging minds and nurturing faith within a deeply connected community.
Our Vision
Led by our Christ-centered mission, Harding University aspires to be known around the world for educating and inspiring students to relentlessly pursue God’s truth, excellence and love.
Our Values
Pursuit of Truth
We believe the truths of God’s Word are relevant to contemporary culture, and we exercise the freedom to pursue truth in every discipline.
Human Dignity
We view every human as an image-bearer of God and therefore treat all with respect and dignity while pursuing authentic relationships.
Compassion
We ground our efforts in empathy and propel our students to use their God-given talents to run toward the brokenness among humanity as instruments of healing.
Civility
As ministers of reconciliation we respectfully work through differences and strive to promote wisdom and understanding.
Excellence
We are committed to a high standard of character, integrity, scholarship, collaboration and work ethic.
Our Motto
Inspired Purpose
Inspired. Anchored in our historic Christian mission, we recognize the very source of our strength; the Spirit of the Lord. A dove to remind us of the One who saves. A fire to impassion us. A wind to refresh and guide us.
Purpose. The essence of the Harding experience extends far beyond career preparation. It is a quest for meaning and vision. It is a crucible to discover our values, convictions, and direction.
Inspired Purpose. It marinates the Harding ethos. It aspires to create the world God intended from the beginning.
Harding University Strategic Objectives
Objective #1: Cultivate a strong culture of human flourishing
We believe that our mission and vision are best achieved when our employees and students are thriving. Thus, a robust and sustained investment in creating a healthy organizational culture that intentionally invests in the personal, professional and spiritual development of our employees and students is critical toward this aim.
Objective #2: Equip students to effectively engage a pluralistic and secular society with a Christian worldview
We participate in Jesus’ kingdom work of restoring the world to what God intended from the beginning. This has become significantly more challenging in a culture that increasingly embraces a non-Christian ethos. We must be laser sharp in our teaching and mentoring efforts to best prepare our students to counter today’s cultural trajectory with the relevance of Jesus Christ.
Objective #3: Enact high standards of excellence in preparing students for career accomplishment in a globally competitive marketplace
Students and their families invest in a Harding education for many good reasons. Chief among them is the high expectation that they will be well-prepared for and connected to career opportunities upon graduation. It is critical that we fully leverage our campus resources (human and material), our broad alumni base and other networks in equipping our students for lives of purpose and vocational success.
Objective #4: Implement innovative strategies that align academic offerings with current and future market demands
Societal expectations for higher education are ever-changing, and the higher education marketplace is more dynamically competitive than at any other time in history. We must think and plan innovatively to deliver mission-driven, market-smart and academically sound programs.
Objective #5: Construct a financial model that supports increased affordability and institutional autonomy
College affordability and increasing doubt regarding return on investment is a real deterrent for many families today, posing a tremendous risk to our future promise and stability. A comprehensive study of financial modeling options that lead to increased sustainability and religious freedom are paramount to our long-term success and mission fulfillment.
Objective #6: Build a globally recognized and distinctive University brand
Harding is uniquely positioned to draw missionally aligned students from all corners of the world and prepare them for global impact. We must clearly define what makes us a distinctive university and employ new strategies to make them known to a broader audience.
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