Proudly standing as the nation’s oldest HBCU, Cheyney University has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837. For 182 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world.

Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility among not only HBCUs, but in all of American higher education.

Our Vision

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania will be the premier educational model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility in all of American higher education.

Our Mission

Established in 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania continues to build on its legacy as America’s first institution of higher education for African-Americans. Our Mission is to equip and empower students of diverse backgrounds to be visionary leaders in their chosen fields. We offer innovative approaches to teaching and quality academic programs that expose our students to pioneering ideas, research, and civic engagement. Our transformative approach to student development emphasizes the whole person, fostering success in the classroom, on campus, and in life.

Our Values

Scholarship , Diversity , Integrity , Respect , and Service

Why These Matter to Us

At Cheyney, our Vision, Mission, and Values are much more than lofty statements that decorate the walls of our campus buildings. We think of them as guideposts that inform our priorities, our decisions, our actions and our interactions with students and each other. In short, we strive to live them each and every day.

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