As a member of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities USF holds certain characteristic of Franciscan higher education and  give witness to the following common attributes:

1) The Franciscan Tradition holds a sacramental view of the world and of the human person as a reflection of God’s overflowing goodness. Thus, a Franciscan education:

• celebrates diversity as an expression of God’s generous love incarnate first in Jesus Christ and the human family,
• emphasizes responsibility for creation honoring the dignity of every creature as a particular gift of God with special care for those suffering/marginalized, and
• provides opportunities to contemplate and communicate the reality of God’s abundant goodness and beauty. 

2) The Franciscan Tradition emphasizes relationships building communion from a stance of minoritas.  Thus, a Franciscan education: 

• works from a stance of minority/humility, accountability, transparency and poverty/simplicity,
• promotes peacemaking, seeking to heal divisions through a sense of familial communion, and
• engages the world through a culture of social responsibility with attitude of justice to “repair God’s house.”

3) The Franciscan Tradition, balancing both orthodoxy and orthopraxy, is grounded in Gospel values. Thus, a Franciscan education:

• supports every person on their lifelong journey of conversion (maturation/search for truth),
• contributes an intellectual tradition that reflects an acknowledgement of faith and an ethical and moral response to God’s love, and
• encourages/models a response to the personal call to leadership through service (Jesus’ witness in the gospels).

The Franciscan Tradition has a distinctive approach to reality. As an educational institution these characteristics shape and define policies, practices, activities, interactions, programs, speakers, celebrations, prayer opportunities, service projects, course offerings, professional preparation, resolution of conflicts, orientations, and other interactions.

RESPECT
We hold reverence for all life and all humankind as children of God, we are brothers and sisters to all peoples—races and beliefs. We strive to show a reverence for all human life and life of all forms. Dignity and respect for all drive our efforts in working for the common good. In the spirit of charity, we support each other. We live daily with a reverence for all creation.

INTEGRITY
In our work and interaction, we commit ourselves in honesty and excellence in our work, and seek to experience high ethical standards in our lives. We accept personal responsibility for our actions. We are well aware of concern for the challenges of Christian living in a modern world. The university attempts to assist students, faculty and business people to achieve greater understanding of ethical dimensions of professional life.

SERVICE
In the Spirit of St. Francis, we strive to serve all people, especially the poor and powerless. Knowing our own dependence on God and on others, we engage in active service to the poor and to those with special needs. In order to accomplish our mission, we seek also to exercise a wise stewardship of the university’s resources.

COMPASSION
We have compassion for all people, always aware of the call to love our neighbors as ourselves, we strive to open our hearts to all others. We seek to form loving relationships thereby promoting empathy, forgiveness and peace in the global community. We work to build up God’s people everywhere, to bring reconciliation, and to act as instruments of change for future generations.