IDENTITY

Core Values of Neumann University

The way of life which Francis and Clare of Assisi and their followers embraced was modeled on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The values which guided their lives were rooted in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments. These values cannot be summarized in a few words. However, institutions often highlight certain values which seem particularly relevant for their mission and the time. At this time in its history, Neumann has chosen to give special emphasis to five values: Reverence, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship (RISES). Flowing from these values are others which are of particular significance to the university community: hospitality, compassion, care of creation, peace-making, and a commitment to justice. According to the University Vision Statement, Neumann RISES on the values of Reverence, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship and lives the actions these values inspire. In “living the actions these values inspire,” we seek to promote and integrate Catholic Social Teachings. In the spirit of Francis of Assisi we are invited to Preach the Gospel always and, if necessary, use words.

Reverence

• We honor as sacred the worth and dignity of each person.
• We celebrate our relationship as sisters and brothers with one another and all creation.
• We create a compassionate, welcoming, and reconciling community.

All creation comes from God as gift. With God as Father and Jesus as brother, all women and men are sisters and brothers to one another and to the whole created universe. Having been loved unconditionally by God, we are invited to love, support, and care for life in all stages, from conception to natural death. We respect religious, ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity and seek to reconcile divisions of any kind. We promote communications which are meaningful, honest, and inclusive by listening reflectively to one another and encouraging varying points of view.

Integrity

• We speak the Truth in Love.
• We act fairly, honestly, and ethically at all times.
• We accept responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

Integrity is the foundation for a community where persons live and work, study and play, as brothers and sisters. Flowing from authenticity and rooted in sound ethical and moral principles and values, integrity requires that we never misrepresent ourselves or our work in any way. We do not use the words or works of another as if they were our own. We respect and care for the property of others.

Service

• We serve with humility, compassion, and love.
• We challenge unjust structures and work for social transformation.
• We embrace service as a life-long commitment.

Inherent in the mission of Neumann University is the challenge to place knowledge at the service of others. The call to service invites us to be attentive to the needs of all, especially the least among us. Service flows from compassion, love and respect, and leads to identification with and understanding of those whom we serve. We serve those within our own community and reach out to others in service that is respectful and mutually enriching. We seek concrete opportunities to serve others through volunteer and outreach activities and through academic service –learning.

Excellence

• We perform to the best of our ability the responsibilities entrusted to us.
• We practice cooperation, rather than competition, in the quest for excellence.
• We foster academic achievement through a strong teaching-learning community.

At Neumann University, we recognize that every service within the community is essential and helps to further our mission. We are committed to quality education that is holistic and value oriented. We invite each student to participate actively and responsibly in classes and to invest fully and maturely in curricular and co-curricular programs. We challenge our graduates to take their place in society as competent, educated persons ready to accept the challenge of bringing the values of society into harmony with Gospel values.

Stewardship

• We receive gratefully, use carefully, and share generously the resources available to us.
• We care for creation as a sacred Gift from God.
• We promote Catholic Social Teaching by working for peace with justice for all.

Everything we have, including our education, has been given to us by a loving and all good God. Our response to this goodness and love is gratitude and a sense of responsibility as citizens of the local and global community and sisters and brothers to all, especially the least among us. All our resources are actually on loan to us to be cared for, to be used in service for all, and to be preserved for future use. Therefore, we consider the impact of our decisions on one another and on the common good.