The university was founded to give the newly emancipated freedmen an opportunity for education of the mind in an ethical, religious environment. An HBCU, the university embraces the uniqueness and contributions of the African Diaspora, celebrating the value of cultural and intellectual diversity. However, enrollment is open to all students without regard to racial background.

Its mission is to provide a nurturing intellectually challenging and spiritually enriching environment for learning, empower students to develop strong moral values for success and to develop scholars, leaders, and lifelong learners of a global society. To accomplish this mission, VUU offers a broad range of educational opportunities that advances liberal arts education, teaching, research, science, technology, continuing education, civic engagement, and international experiences.