Mission & Vision
Differentiation. Excellence. Focus. Flexibility.
Our mission
Learning, discovery and innovation, and social engagement (with our students, the university and the world).
Our positioning statement
Dalhousie University is one of Canada’s leading universities widely recognized for outstanding academic quality and the opportunities presented by our broad range of educational and research activities. Dalhousie, part of the vibrant Nova Scotia community since 1818, attracts high achieving, motivated and engaged students from around the world. We provide a unique, interactive and collaborative environment with diverse, challenging academic programs and career-oriented opportunities. We inspire our students, faculty, staff and graduates to make significant contributions to our region, Canada and the world.
Our vision
Dalhousie will become Canada’s best university, committed to advancing provincial and regional development by attracting and offering a diverse student body, an outstanding personal experience at a national university built around an excellent learning environment, acclaimed research strengths, broad program choices and successful career preparation in cooperation with supportive external stakeholders.
Our strategic focus
• Fostering academic innovation
• Enriching student experience
• Strengthening enrolment
• Supporting research excellence
• Developing outstanding human resources
• Sustaining campus renewal
• Ensuring financial stability
• Engaging our community
Our logo
Dalhousie has used the eagle and shield, taken from the university’s seal, as the basis for its logo since 1987. The current incarnation was launched in 2003 and includes the university’s tagline, “Inspiring Minds.”
Our official colours
Dalhousie’s primary colours are black and gold, taken from the jerseys originally worn by Dalhousie’s rugby team. Other colours that complement the colour palette are specific shades of green and blue along with occasional accents of red.
Our historical motto
"Ora et Labora" ("Pray and Work").
The Dalhousie seal
The Dalhousie seal is based on the heraldic achievement – commonly called “Coat of Arms” – of the Ramsay family of Scotland. The Rt. Hon. George Ramsay, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, founded Dalhousie University in 1818. Though the Ramsay seal features a griffon (half lion, half dragon) and greyhound, the Dalhousie seal instead has two dragons supporting the eagle-adorned shield. In 1950, the Dalhousie Board of Governors changed the colour of the shield from silver to gold to better match the university’s colours. The seal is displayed at convocation and can be seen engraved on the lobby floor in the Henry Hicks Academic and Administration Building.
