NU embraces a mission that is
Educational, Catholic & Vincentian

Our University community strives to embody the vision of St. Vincent de Paul, in a mission that is educational, Catholic and Vincentian.

CONFIDENCE, CLARITY of direction, and a heightened sense of PURPOSE.

Since 1856, Niagara University has lived its Educational, Catholic, and Vincentian mission, inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s commitment to education, service, and systemic change.

Today, that mission comes to life through programs such as IMPACT, PATHWAYS, and our Poverty and Leadership minors, as well as faculty research, service scholarships, and community partnerships. Thousands of students have participated in IMPACT, bringing their learning beyond the classroom to address real community needs.

Through these experiences, Niagara prepares students to become transformed and transforming alumni who lead, serve, and create positive change in their communities and workplaces.

Our Focus

As a university, our strength lies in our ability to know and help each other as human persons. Grounded by an internal culture that is characterized by creativity, flexibility, and collaborative relationships, Niagara University faculty and staff interact with students in a variety of ways to help them grow as scholars and people.

Our students must reach beyond books and websites to realize that building successful personal and professional relationships is the key to achieving goals.

Our service activities, shaped by our Catholic and Vincentian heritage, emphasize the need to respect the God-given dignity of all persons.

Our Vision

Through quality teaching, meaningful research, and hands-on learning, Niagara University inspires a passion for knowledge, inquiry, and lifelong learning. We foster academic excellence and integrity while providing students with opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, personal growth, and intellectual maturity.

With a strong liberal arts foundation, career development, and support programs, we prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed for success in their professions, advanced education, and communities—with a strong commitment to ethical leadership.

Our Inspiration

St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th century Catholic priest, inspired and organized his contemporaries to serve the poor and oppressed. In this spirit, Niagara University strives to develop leaders who will make a difference in their local communities and the larger world.

We teach students about the challenges and causes of poverty, and we support service learning activities where our students reach out with compassion to serve people’s basic needs. The larger university community is encouraged to study St. Vincent and continue his important work. The Vincentian Mission provides purpose to our institution, and calls on us to strive for both excellence and humility.

Our Heritage

The rich literary and cultural traditions of the Catholic Church live on at Niagara University. Catholic intellectual life is centered on understanding the philosophical, moral, and practical implications of respecting the God-given dignity of every person.

For the individual, this perspective provides a strong foundation of values to lead a good and fulfilling life by nurturing the development of the whole person – mind, body, heart and soul. More broadly, the university supports groups promoting social justice, especially those that focus on issues of poverty and oppression.

Service Opportunities

Vincentian Immersion Program, VIP

The VIP Freshmen helps incoming NU Students understand the Niagara University mission to engage the Vincentian tradition of service, community building, and prayer.

Community Revitalization

Levesque Institute, in partnership with the City of Niagara Falls, Niagara County and community organizations, is committed to the revitalization of neighborhoods. Issues like housing, workforce development, and job preparation

Office of IMPACT

Through the Office of IMPACT, Niagara University promotes a model of mission driven change through project based learning, leadership, and civic engagement to address critical community needs.

Vocation and Venture

Vocation and Venture is a monthly service opportunity, reflecting on the lives of those living in poverty, doing service, and community building.

Our Goals

  1. As a university, Niagara prepares its students for positions of responsibility in the professions and broader society. Through teaching, research, and service in baccalaureate and graduate programs, Niagara seeks to develop within its students a passion for learning.
  2. The university’s commitment to the Catholic faith provides perspective in the search for truth and meaning. Catholic doctrine and its moral code inspire respect for the God-given dignity of every person and all faith traditions. Students experience the vision and reality of a gospel-based, value-centered education.
  3. As a Vincentian university, Niagara draws inspiration from St. Vincent de Paul, who organized his contemporaries to respond compassionately to people’s basic needs. Continuing this tradition, the university inspires students to serve all members of society, especially the poor and oppressed, in local communities and throughout the world.
  4. Through its curricular and extracurricular programs, Niagara University develops the whole person—mind, body, heart, and soul—for the benefit of personal and professional life.

Latest News

Mission – NU News All the latest news from Niagara University

We should assist the poor in every way and do it both by ourselves and by enlisting the help of others... To do this is to preach the gospel by words and work.
St Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul