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Free Expression at Rutgers

Mission and Values

University Mission

As one of the leading comprehensive public research universities in the nation, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, has the threefold mission of:

  • Providing for the educational needs of New Jersey through our undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs;
  • Conducting cutting-edge research that contributes to the health, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of the state, nation, and world, as well as strengthening the economy and supporting businesses and industries; and
  • Performing public service in support of the needs of the people of the state and their local, county, and state governments.

Rutgers is a place that encourages free, open, and civil discussion, debate, and exploration of different ideas and viewpoints – a place where we strive to teach students how to think, not what to think. To excel in teaching, research, and service requires that we engage in genuine curiosity and commit ourselves to understanding one another—even around the most difficult and divisive topics. That is intrinsic to our mission.

Winants Hall

Rutgers Values

This is what we stand for, who we are, what defines us.

The Rutgers Values statement articulates what binds us together as The State University of New Jersey: Academic Excellence, Beloved Community, and Common Good. It offers a common way to express our values as One Rutgers while embracing the unique expressions conveyed through the Chancellor-led units and central areas of Rutgers.

Access to Academic Excellence

Rutgers is committed to driving inclusive access for students to Rutgers with an aspiration to be the national model for outstanding academic programs, social mobility and educational equity with purposeful and timely degree completion, career preparation and lifelong learning.

Beloved Community

Rutgers believes in building a university culture committed to respect for one another and working together to embody, reflect and appreciate the complexity of all our parts, and we believe in enabling active citizenship, recognizing we all have a role in sustaining our democracy and engaging fully in the growing diversity of our state and country. We endeavor to instill in our students a commitment to community through service and experiences that contribute to a greater understanding of themselves and others, support their whole person while students at Rutgers and provide meaningful engagement post-graduation.

Common Good

Rutgers believes that the work we do through the excellence of our health systems, scholarly research and outreach programs propels the creation, sharing and application of knowledge, and our collaborations with local and global partners address societal challenges and improve the lives of people in New Jersey and around the world.

Download Rutgers Values Statement [PDF]