Saint Mary's traces its earliest beginnings to 1802 when the Reverend Edmund Burke, later Bishop Burke, taught young men at the Glebe House, on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street. The boys’ school grew first into a college and then into a university, never wavering in its commitment to education and community service.

Under the leadership of the Irish Christian Brothers, the college shared its Windsor Street campus with a high school and built a solid reputation for Saint Mary’s undergraduate programs. They pioneered a number of new instructional programs including one of the first faculties of commerce in Canada.

The vision, mission and core values of Saint Mary’s University lay the foundation for the direction and culture of our university.

Vision

Saint Mary’s, building on its strong tradition of accessibility and community engagement, will be the University of choice for aspiring citizens of the world.

Mission

The mission of Saint Mary’s University:

• Offer undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs.
• Engage in research and disseminate its results.
• Serve the community from the local to the international level.

Core values

In achieving its mission, the Saint Mary’s community is guided by core values of:

• Academic integrity
• The pursuit of knowledge
• Responsiveness to community needs
• Openness to change
• Concerns for a just and civil society
• Commitment to environmental sustainability
• Fiscal responsibility
• We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success.

The university is committed to accessibility, diversity and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment through the effective integration of teaching and research. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the university’s success.

Through promoting the importance of critical enquiry, leadership, teamwork and global awareness, we aim to prepare students for responsible and rewarding lives and to remain engaged with our alumni worldwide.