Mission Statement

The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.

Oakwood University commits to the following values...

  • Vision: Oakwood University graduates leaders in service to God and humanity.
  • Respect: Esteem others as worthy of human dignity, regard, and service
  • Compassion: Manifest sympathy, empathy, care, and concern in our dealings with others
  • Integrity: Demonstrate honesty, uprightness, moral virtue, and ethical rectitude in every relationship
  • Excellence: Personal and collective decision to perform at our highest capacity and continually improve in our work and service
  • Service: Provide assistance, aid, help, care, outreach, and ministry in response to human need
  • Innovation: Break with precedent in the advancement of institutional mission by embracing new methods and introducing major changes
  • Collaboration: Commit to integrated planning, internal and external partnering, and collegial action designed to build community and advance our mission.

Six Organizational Priorities at Oakwood University

  • Priority 1: Learning Supportive Environments – Oakwood University’s Division of Student Life & Mission will facilitate a safe, spiritual, nurturing, vibrant, and supportive campus environment that meets the needs of students and enhances the student experience.
  • Priority 2: Education Effectiveness – Oakwood University’s Division of Enrollment Services & Retention (ESR) will ensure academic effectiveness in teaching and learning.
  • Priority 3: Enrollment Services & Retention – The ESR Division will increase student enrollment and engage internal and external stakeholders through exceptional, innovative, collaborative services to drive student success.
  • Priority 4: Research & Faculty Development – Oakwood University’s Research & Faculty Development Division (RFD) will facilitate and report on institutional research across curricular and co-curricular programs based on institutional policies and accreditation standards. RFD will enable data-based decision making by providing timely institutional data for decision-making and promoting research and service to local and international communities.
  • Priority 5: Business Development, Fiscal Growth, University Advancement – The Division of Business Development, Finance, & University Advancement facilitates ways and means to grow, manage, and diversify University Revenue.
  • Priority 6: The Office of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations (IMPR) – The IMPR Office guarantees the highest quality of internal and external communication across multiple media to the diverse publics and stakeholders of the University.