Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University is inextricably connected to Roger Williams, the 17th-century leader devoted to freedom of conscience and social justice who founded a community in Rhode Island based on those tenets. Roger Williams' philosophy, and what has been called his 'lively experiment,' nurtured the growth of vibrant and open societies. Our pursuit of excellence in education, academic accomplishment and community service is rooted in his focus on intellectual exchange, critical thinking, inclusiveness and innovation as a means of improving a free society. It is this legacy that inspires our core purpose.

The university’s roots date back to 1956, when we started as a junior college inside the Broad Street Providence YMCA. Jump to 2017, we now have more than 75 program offerings on two campuses in coastal Bristol and the capital city of Providence.

Just as Roger Williams himself fearlessly advocated for freedom of conscience, equality and tolerance to help improve his community, RWU prides itself on being an innovative, forward-thinking institution devoted to strengthening society through engaged teaching and learning.

In the fall of 2014, the entire University community launched The Vision Project, with more than 20 committees comprising of faculty, staff, students and trustees working together over six months to articulate a bold, new core purpose, an enduring set of core values and visionary university goals. Drawing inspiration from our namesake, this was RWU's own "lively experiment" to define a roadmap for our future.