The original St. Mary's College Act received Royal Assent on September 18, 1986. St. Mary's College officially became St. Mary'sUniversity College On June 16, 2004, and was authorised to grant its own Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees.St. Mary's University College is a Catholic post-secondary, student-focused liberal arts and sciences teaching and research institution. Through the synthesis of faith and reason, St. Mary's University College invites and challenges all members of the society to become compassionate, thoughtful and resourceful community individuals .St. Mary's University College is a beacon of learning, civility, and hope, inspiring students to lead with integrity and to meet the future with confidence, intellectual acuity, moral conviction, and a passion for social justice and the common good.

Freedom of inquiry and expression define St. Mary's University College. The rights and obligations of academic freedom derive from the nature of academic life, and are consistent with the objectives of the University College as a community of scholars that pursues the highest academic standards; increases intellectual and spiritual growth; recognizes ethical and moral implications both of methods and discoveries; maintains respect for the inherent dignity of individuals as persons; and lives in the tradition of Catholic belief and its rich scholarly heritage.