175 Years of Mission-Driven Education and 25 Years Serving Adult Learners

Marian University’s 175th anniversary represents far more than a simple acknowledgment of a long and influential history — it’s a chance to celebrate an inspiring mission that has shaped one of Indiana's most influential Catholic universities. There's no denying that this heritage is powerful, but we're also genuinely excited about where Marian's vibrant community is headed. 

Built on Franciscan values and a strong commitment to service, we’ve spent the last 25 years expanding our foundational mission to better support adult learners and working professionals. Today, we honor our legacy by offering flexible online and hybrid programs designed to fit the lives of diverse learners. 

Introduction: A Milestone Year for a Mission-Driven Institution

We've arrived at a milestone year for Marian University: 175 years of academic excellence and mission-driven service. Along the way, our programs and inspiring faculty members have touched the lives of tens of thousands of students, along with the countless community members those students have gone on to serve. 

As we pay homage to this rich history, we also look to the future, seeking new ways to live out our core principles while continuing to serve the needs of diverse learners and the broader community. Increasingly, that effort involves lifelong learning, including tailored programs for working students and expanded online degree programs. Keep reading to discover how the history of Marian University exemplifies our values and continues to inspire mission-driven education to this day.

A Legacy Built on Franciscan Tradition

Marian has long relied on Franciscan principles to cultivate a supportive, mission-driven environment in which passionate learners could find dignity, inspiration, and meaning. From boarding school and teacher training programs to liberal arts and online programs, Marian has continually found innovative ways to link Franciscan values with modern-day societal needs and challenges. 

Education Guided by Service and Purpose

Marian's core values include dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship. These values are purposefully integrated into every academic program, course, and learning experience — on-campus and off. Marian's students and faculty members understand that the deeper meaning of academic inquiry is found in service. Thus, they actively seek to gain and apply knowledge so they can address real-world challenges with integrity.

A History of Empowering Learners to Lead and Serve

In 1954, Marian became Indiana’s first Catholic co-educational college, allowing the university to begin building a strong legacy of both courage and innovation.  From the very beginning, Marian has prioritized student empowerment, using holistic education to help learners serve their communities with purpose. This priority underscored Marian's early efforts to address social challenges — for example, caring for orphans following devastating epidemics as well as bringing educational opportunities to diverse learners during a time when Indianapolis was still segregated. 

Through the years, Marian's core spirit of service has been infused into academic and professionally focused training, with students encouraged to use their talents to act as stewards in education, healthcare, ministry, business, and beyond. 

Why Mission Still Matters Today

Marian's mission, vision, and values convey a commitment to uplifting learners so that they, in turn, can transform knowledge into action, leading with integrity as they serve their communities.

Our mission offers powerful guidance, ensuring that our campus and online programs remain committed to the core principles that have long set Marian apart. This mission also fuels meaningful change, remaining at the heart of our effort to expand educational opportunities through accessible online learning. 

The Last 25 Years: Expanding the Mission to Adult Education

Following over a century of excellence, Marian University began to expand its reach beyond the state of Indiana while still maintaining a distinctly supportive and empowering campus community. The early 2000s brought groundbreaking technologies to higher education, and Marian quickly capitalized on this chance to share Franciscan values and academic opportunities with a broader audience. 

2000: The Beginning of Marian’s Adult Education Journey

The early 2000s marked a turning point for Marian University, inspiring a shift toward technological innovation and increased access. For instance, the university established the Marian Adult Programs (MAP), which offered targeted business degrees to support both career growth and lifelong learning. These programs were designed to be accelerated and convenient so they seamlessly fit into adult learners' busy schedules, better serving non-traditional students. 

While the MAP offered early support and was instrumental in welcoming working students into the Marian community, the university has since extended online and flexible offerings. Students can find digital opportunities across the Marian ecosystem, maximizing the benefits of accessible learning. 

Meeting Learners Where They Are

Long before online learning reached mainstream audiences, Marian adapted coursework to reflect the unique needs of digital audiences. This meant fostering connection through intuitive materials and platforms while also encouraging faculty members and students to develop genuine relationships.

Today, we continue to support online learners through the easy-to-navigate Canvas portal. Students who run into technical difficulties can easily access Marian's HelpDesk, which offers targeted guidance and increases confidence in online learning. 

Programs Built on Real-World Relevance

Marian's academic programs share a core commitment: linking rigorous academic experiences with ethical reflection, thereby empowering students to think critically and lead responsibly. These values are closely tied to impact-driven curricula that reflect industry-relevant priorities. Marian's industry-aligned coursework draws heavily on evidence-backed insights, bringing these ideas to life through immersive case studies, simulations, and other applied learning experiences. 

The Growth of Marian University Online

Since the groundbreaking launch of Marian's online and adult education programs, we have expanded our offerings to allow a wider range of students to craft their academic journeys as they see fit. Today, we help students earn a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, offering flexible pathways that blend academic rigor with professional preparation and spiritual grounding — all while conveying Marian's commitment to accessible, values-driven learning. 

Bringing Marian’s Mission to Digital Spaces

Marian's mission of educational empowerment is by no means limited to the conventional campus environment. We support adult learners in higher education by offering flexible programs that bring academic discovery and personal connection to online spaces. This removes geographic barriers so that passionate students across the nation can pursue knowledge and spiritual growth while receiving robust guidance and support. 

Flexible, Affordable Pathways for Busy Adults

Adult students often struggle to find balance as they deal with competing academic, professional, and personal demands. Online and hybrid programs alleviate this burden, allowing students to tailor their schedules and learning experiences to reflect their current lifestyle needs or priorities. At Marian, flexibility serves as an extension of our mission and values, ensuring that learners can seek knowledge in their own unique way — regardless of location or scheduling concerns. 

High-Touch Support for Every Student

Marian offers a wealth of support services that help students feel connected, cared for, and respected. Academic advising helps students clarify course schedules and degree requirements, revealing how these play into personal plans and schedules. Tutoring and counseling services, meanwhile, support diverse students as they walk through challenges in their coursework and in their personal lives. 

Tech support minimizes technical hiccups so that online and adult learners can access digital materials and experiences with ease. The Exchange extends this support beyond higher learning, helping students discover how they can use their talents to contribute to their respective industries or communities. 

How Marian Continues to Shape the Future of Adult Education

Following 25 years of growth and change, Marian remains committed to bringing academic opportunity to passionate learners. Moving forward, we hope to continue expanding and enriching our online programs, all while keeping our Franciscan values at the forefront. 

Programs Designed for Workforce Needs

Marian's academic programs are driven by today's most pressing industry needs, with courses preparing students for the realities of the contemporary workforce. Across diverse disciplines, we design coursework with impact in mind, helping students develop critical skills — but also revealing how those abilities can be applied in a way that exemplifies Marian's mission and values. We encourage service learning and other immersive experiences that shed light on the real-world influence of skilled professionals. 

Removing Barriers Through Financial Support

Financial barriers should not prevent passionate learners from pursuing academic inquiry. Marian values transparency and is upfront about the investment in higher learning — but we also offer numerous financial aid options, including grants for our students. Targeted awards are available to help first-year and transfer students get a strong start, with program-specific scholarships also provided. 

Financial aid advisors walk students through the application process, revealing how students can pursue academic growth without experiencing unnecessary financial stress. 

A Community That Believes in Every Learner’s Potential

At Marian, we believe that all adults deserve access to educational opportunities. Our initiative, Project Build, helps diverse learners develop literacy and numeracy skills, which, in turn, drive improved performance in college and even career advancement. Students receive free instruction, including English language and occupational classes. 

This early support sets the stage for success in college, where we continue to help learners achieve their full potential. From tutoring and assisted learning to workshops and counseling services, we are committed to providing comprehensive assistance so that all students can thrive. 

Honoring the Past, Strengthening the Future

Marian's original vision laid the groundwork for a deeply connected and passionate campus community that continues to unlock students' true potential. As we pay homage to this rich background, we also seek new ways to live out our values, such as by exploring tech-driven opportunities to expand access. 

A Heritage of Learning, A Legacy of Leadership

With a powerful legacy spanning over 175 years, Marian University draws on a rich history, fostering intellectual curiosity and a deep sense of purpose among tens of thousands of students. We take pride in this legacy, but complacency is not the Marian way. Our mission calls us to continue finding new ways to serve, while our strategic pillars convey our commitment to continually fostering access and success. 

Adult Education as a Natural Extension of Marian’s Mission

Adult education exemplifies Marian's core values: dignity of the individual, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship. Marian honors adult learners by embracing their lived experiences and removing barriers to learning. We help adult learners bounce back from adversity and provide the insight and resources adult students need to contribute meaningfully to their communities. 

Where Marian Is Going Next

Marian’s Journey to 2030 reveals our ongoing commitment to innovation, along with our desire to take bold action as we find new ways to support, inspire, and empower an increasingly diverse student body. Moving forward, we hope to further expand opportunities through these priorities:

• A permanent endowment that will bring more scholarships to Marian's Fred S. Klipsch Educators College.
• An expanded health sciences program, committed to addressing healthcare gaps in Indiana. 
• A continued emphasis on hybrid and online solutions that provide flexible opportunities for adult learners in diverse environments. 

We invite you to join us and discover how our mission-driven environment can support your unique journey, bringing inspiration and purpose to the forefront so you can fulfill your potential and help others do the same. 

Sources

• https://www.marian.edu/give-to-marian/journey-to-2030/ 
• https://www.marian.edu/faith/our-founders/ 
• https://www.marian.edu/newsroom/2024/09/06-marian-universitys-150m-strategic-expansion-to-tackle-critical-healthcare-gaps-in-indiana 
• https://www.marian.edu/faith/_assets/_documents/mu_franciscanheritage.pdf 
• https://www.marian.edu/about-marian/_assets/_documents/strategic-plan-2025-executive-summary.pdf 
• https://www.marian.edu/online/resources/technology-support 
• https://www.marian.edu/center-for-teaching-and-learning/assessment/institutional-learning-outcomes 
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140324171618/https://www.marian.edu/map