Freedom of inquiry is central to the mission of a Catholic
University. The Mission Statement of St. John’s University
begins with this fundamental premise, stating the University’s
commitment to “academic excellence and the pursuit of wisdom which
flows from free inquiry, religious values and human
experience.”
Free Inquiry
St. John's University is committed to academic freedom of
inquiry and endorses the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic
Freedom and Tenure of the American Association of University
Professors in accordance with the Board of Trustees of the
University since January 15, 1968. This commitment is
specifically incorporated into the University Statutes and the
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the University and
the AAUP-FA (CBA, Section 2.02).
Religious Values
St. John’s University believes that there is no compromise
whatsoever between Catholic identity and freedom of inquiry.
Indeed, a religiously informed sense of respect for all persons
grounds a spirit of openness, tolerance, and celebration of diverse
views and backgrounds. In a community united around the
common purpose of sharing and extending knowledge, all viewpoints
are welcome and contribute to greater understanding. Respect,
Excellence and Truth are among the core values highlighted by the
University. Each of these values signals the mutual desire
and responsibility of all to honor the opinions of all, including
the institutional Catholic heritage and identity of St. John’s
University. Similarly, these values insist upon academic
integrity in all scholarly endeavors. (See guidelines on
respecting intellectual sources through proper citation, etc.)
Human Experience
The heritage of all Catholic universities coincides with the
historical origin of the European University, which developed from
the medieval cathedral schools. This heritage reflects a
search for truth which is both a religious quest and a secular
aim. Christian values are an important tributary in the
source waters of European humanism, affirming the creativity and
dignity of human life, celebrating beauty and human meaning through
the arts and literature, inspiring ethical reflection upon societal
institutions, as well as spurring scientific explorations for the
greater good. These aims are the root of the disciplines of
the liberal arts and sciences.