Saint Anselm remains committed to its founding vision to be a mission-centric institution delivering a first-rate liberal arts education with innovative educational programs and an exceptional student experience.
Our Purpose
Saint Anselm College exists for a primary purpose: to assist students to realize their intellectual, moral, and spiritual potential. We resolutely pursue this purpose through the weaving of three distinctive threads: our continued dedication to our founding Catholic and Benedictine mission and identity, our deep belief in the transformative power of a liberal arts education, and our abiding commitment to preparing students for their professional journey. At the intersection of these threads is the Benedictine hallmark of community, which invites both individual and collective transformation—by challenging assumptions, fostering critical thinking, and cultivating the inner life of mind and heart.
Our Vision
As we anticipate the future, we will both fundamentally remain who we have been for our 135-year history and continue to evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century. As an essential element of our evolution, by 2030, Saint Anselm will be a leading Catholic institution seeking to enroll 2,500 students in three purpose driven schools with nationally recognized academic centers.
Our Plan
Ascent to the Hilltop was developed to address changes in higher education and specific issues affecting Saint Anselm College. Discussions with stakeholders revealed that the College must address campus capacity and infrastructure, diversify its revenue beyond undergraduate tuition, and develop more innovative approaches to its educational mission. The College also faces external pressure from an increasingly shifting higher education landscape, an overall negative perception of liberal arts colleges, and demographic challenges in the Northeast.
In response to these challenges, Ascent to the Hilltop emerges from two guiding markers: to provide an exceptional student experience and to grow institutional capacity to serve students into the future. The plan is laser-focused on students, and both emerges from and advances our purpose and vision. The markers guide the way to three key strategic goals, each of which will be achieved through objectives, tactics and action items.
View the Full Strategic Plan
To view the full version of Ascent to the Hilltop on Issuu and for the option to download, please click the link below.
