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  • Hamline University students outside of Old Main


  • Mission and History

    Our Mission

    At Hamline, our mission is to create a diverse and collaborative community of learners dedicated to the development of students' knowledge, values, and skills for successful lives of leadership, scholarship, and service.
      

    Statue of Leonidas Hamline

    Statement of Purpose and Belief

    A History of Firsts and a Commitment to Educate All

    At Hamline University, we believe that everyone should have access to a quality education and that education is the most important vehicle to transform lives and communities. We bring together a community of learners who excel academically, are intellectually curious, and demonstrate determination, spirit, and drive. We were the first university in Minnesota and the first to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees to women and men. Today, we remain true to our beginnings, with nearly half of our students the first in their families to attend a four-year college.

    A Career-Ready Education

    We provide students with an exceptional educational experience, rooted in the liberal arts, which prepares them for their careers and a lifetime of growing both in their fields and in fields they may not yet envision. Through our student-centered approach, students learn the essential skills that empower them to both excel in rapidly changing professions and contribute meaningfully to society. A Hamline education is a career-ready education that opens doors to wide-ranging opportunities for students to continue to build successful lives.

    Building a Better Society through Education

    We believe in John Wesley’s motto of “doing all the good we can, in all the ways we can.” We are champions for justice and social change. We fuel our students’ desire to contribute to—and transform—society. We demonstrate that academic excellence goes hand in hand with improving the lives of others. We strive to ensure that our students graduate prepared to flourish in their communities ready to practice inclusivity and uphold equity. A Hamline education gives students the tools to change the world.

    Read the full history of Hamline