Lenoir-Rhyne unveils revised Mission, Vision and Values in its 135th year

Following a five-month campus-wide engagement process and unanimous approval by the Board of Trustees, Lenoir-Rhyne has adopted revised Mission, Vision and Values that will guide the university's future and provide a clearer, more memorable expression of LR's identity.

Developed as an initiative of the Shine Ever Brighter strategic plan, the revisions are designed to strengthen and clarify the university's foundation. The updated statements preserve the values and purpose that have guided Lenoir-Rhyne for generations while expressing them in language that reflects who the university is today and where it is headed.

"Lenoir-Rhyne has always had a strong sense of purpose,” said President Summer McGee. “These updates refine and clarify our institutional identity for the momentous times that lie ahead. Our new mission gives us language that is authentic and memorable with a new vision reflective of our aspirations. Our values statement honors the values that have defined this university for generations. My hope is that every stakeholder across the Lenoir-Rhyne community will see LR in these statements and be able to learn and repeat them easily as we live them out on our campus."  

The revised statements were shaped through a five-month engagement process involving faculty, staff and trustees. Throughout the process, the committee sought broad campus feedback to ensure the Mission, Vision and Values reflect Lenoir-Rhyne's distinctive strengths, honor its heritage and position the university for the future.

A new preamble rooted in purpose

For the first time, Lenoir-Rhyne's Mission, Vision and Values are introduced by a preamble that reflects the university's Lutheran heritage and intellectual tradition. It affirms the university's commitment to the integration of faith and reason, intellectual curiosity, service and community while emphasizing dialogue, lifelong learning and the pursuit of the common good. The preamble establishes the philosophical foundation for everything that follows.

Rooted in our Lutheran tradition, Lenoir-Rhyne University reflects the Lutheran intellectual heritage that holds together faith and reason, contemplation and action, humility and bold inquiry. We cultivate a learning community where questions are welcomed as pathways to wisdom, vocation and service.

Lenoir-Rhyne affirms our commitment to interdisciplinary exploration, ecumenical and interfaith engagement, and the shared pursuit of the common good. Our Lutheran lens invites us to see the world as dynamically interdependent, calling us into dialogue across differences with courage and compassion.

At Lenoir-Rhyne, the liberal arts tradition integrates social and emotional learning, reflective practice and intellectual rigor so that students can navigate complexity with resilience, empathy, imagination and grace. We nurture learners who understand that flourishing is communal, vocation is discovered in community, and education is a lifelong unfolding of purpose in service to neighbor and world.

Mission

The revised mission is intentionally concise while capturing the university's enduring purpose. It encapsulates our ultimate goal for our graduates who leave Lenoir-Rhyne ready for lives of impact and meaning. How we accomplish this is distinctly Lenoir-Rhyne: developing relationships, a moral compass and belief.  

Lenoir-Rhyne prepares students for meaningful lives and work through cultivation of character, connection and faith.

Vision

The revised vision provides a clear aspiration for where Lenoir-Rhyne is headed as the university continues to grow its academic reputation and impact. This statement reflects Lenoir-Rhyne's current and future goal to prepare students for the professions and careers of tomorrow and whatever changes and opportunities lie ahead.  

A leading professionally focused university in the Southeast known for preparing life-ready graduates.

Values

While the language has been refined, Lenoir-Rhyne's four core values remain unchanged. The updated descriptions make each value more actionable and easier to apply in everyday interactions and decision-making.

• Excellence 
  We will strive to be exceptional. We will continuously cultivate our personal and professional growth. We will develop our talents and abilities fully.
• Integrity  
  We will respect and be honest with one another. We will be accountable for our words and our actions.
• Care  
  We will show compassion and offer grace in our relationships. We will be responsible stewards of our resources. We will serve our communities.
• Curiosity  
  We will confront important issues with open minds and humility. We will embrace the diversity of people and perspectives. We will commit to continuous learning and growth.

These statements represent the shared commitments that define the Lenoir-Rhyne experience and will guide how the university teaches, serves, leads and tells its story for years to come. Together, they provide a shared framework for the university's strategic priorities, campus culture and the new brand messaging that will be introduced later this summer.