Martin University is a private, not-for-profit, liberal arts institution that provides excellence in educating and developing all students with expertise in serving and empowering low income minority and adult learners in a healthy and collegiate environment. Martin prides itself on being unique, future-oriented and student-centered and offers both theoretical and experiential learning experiences which allow students to fully immerse themselves in their chosen fields before entering the workplace.

Martin University’s Vision and Core Values

VISION

Martin University’s vision is to become a premier leader among its peer group as an institution preparing ordinary persons so that they will be able to perform extraordinary tasks as citizen leaders. To accomplish the vision, the future focus of the institution will be as follows: (1) Expanding and enhancing curricular offerings in high demand fields so students are competitive in the global workforce; (2) Connecting the campus and community to the world through the expansion of technology; (3) Building business and community partnerships for extension of experiential learning and community building; and (4) Ensuring student success through career connections.

Core Values

Academic Excellence

Martin promotes academic excellence in its faculty, staff, and especially its students. The level of excellence is objective, allowing for the abilities of the student. We graduate a large number of students with academic awards (Summa and Magna Cum Laude, Academic Deans Award). We encourage academic partnerships with other institutions for our students, where their skills and achievements are highlighted, enhanced, and often showcased to the public.

In support of its mission, Martin University has begun outreach to younger college aged students (i.e., ages 18 to 24) to support and meet their educational needs. Martin University is aware that many of its students are older and, often times are either entering or re-entering higher education after a sustained absence from formal education. As such, Martin University offers students the options of day as well as evening classes.

Spirit

Martin University’s spirit reflects the courage, pride, will, energy, and essences of the university community of students, faculty, and staff. Within this spirit, we offer a holistic education as well as seek to develop, recognize, and nurture the spirituality in our students.

Sense of Community

Weltanschauung, the world perspective encompassing hospitality, compassion, empathy, and advocacy is critical to Martin University. The emphasis is on neighborhood and community involvement, participation in city and cultural events, health and human services.

As Martin University continues to evolve, we want everyone to know that the institution is a Communiversity. A Communiversity is an institution of higher education that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with a research and service oriented mission that benefits its community. A Communiversity has an undergraduate division comprised of colleges or schools and a graduate division comprised of a graduate school and professional school(s), each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates.

Sense of Ethnicity

Martin University is predominantly an African American school that serves and cares for people of color, the poor, and all types of communities. Ethnicity has little to do with color, but more about culture and understanding. We welcome all who can benefit to share their ethnic history, culture, lifestyle, and educational experiences through mutual communication.

Spirituality

The spirituality of Martin University is openness to each person’s belief and the reverence that follows. This reverence generates a heartfelt love of people who enter the institution and experience the ‘Martin Way.’ Most often, people leave with a warmth and understanding of its mission and vision.

Service

Martin University fosters service-minded leaders and change agents. Martin University mentors and nurtures students thereby enabling students to reach for employment success and personal fulfillment. Through the act of humane exchange and outreach, the University provides service and creates service providers. The University exhibits a connectedness between students, faculty and staff. This creates an advantageous exchange between one and all.

Encouragement

Martin University gives support and inspiration. The University provides hope to those who may have felt hopeless and gives them courage to persevere and attain personal and professional goals. Andragogy is one of the tools that build encouragement through the sharing of life experience in the classroom, as well as throughout the entire University. Our goal is that everyone is healthy, happy, and hopeful.

Sense of Uniqueness

We are the trailblazers of adult education. This reflects the value that we place on being unique in comparison to other institutions of higher learning. We are unique in terms of caring for the students, unique in the population that we serve, community relationships, and the focus of our mission. In addition, because of who we are and what we do, people are drawn to us. Existing as the only one; the sole example, having no like or equal, we are peerless. Martin University is big enough to exist, but small enough to touch each one of our students individually. We advocate better personal relationships, due to our size.

Healing Environment

As witnessed by many of our faculty, staff, and especially students, there is a healing environment that exists within Martin University, both intentional and consequential. We have witnessed healing of the body through health awareness and health screenings, healing of the mind through andragogical teaching methods, identifying learning disabilities, and healing of the spirit through course content, delivery, class discussions, convocations, prayer, and music.

Futuristic

We recognize our existence in a futuristic society and look to the needs of our students today and in the future. This has been the case from the beginning, and we will continue to be visionaries for the benefit of those who have been underserved in the past. We embrace our ability and desire to be proactive in recognizing and addressing the needs of today’s students and those yet to come.