Athletics UNITAS: Community, Culture and Engagement exists to ensure that every member of the Villanova athletic community is seen, heard, respected and deeply cared for. Grounded in Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic mission and values, and connected to the goals of the University’s overarching UNITAS: Office for Community Enrichment, the mission of Athletics UNITAS is to maintain a culture of belonging, promote continuous learning, embrace connection across differences, and foster courageous dialogue.
Derived from the Latin word for unity, Unitas represents the fundamental importance of community, friendship and shared identity, rooted in dignity and respect for each person. As His Holiness Pope Leo XIV affirmed in his installation Mass, “Unity does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.”
Our Objectives
In Athletics UNITAS, we define and do the work of Community, Culture and Engagement by:
Community
- Building trust and deep connections beyond the field
- Creating space for authenticity, vulnerability and growth
- Celebrating together and supporting one another in hardship
- Caring for and sacrificing for each other, moving from “me” to “we”
- Embracing our shared story, purpose and legacy
Culture
- Ensuring every individual feels seen, valued, heard and included
- Growing through reflection, curiosity, dialogue and the practice of learning and unlearning
- Encouraging authenticity and honoring each person’s full identity—their full sense of self and expression
- Fostering a community that uplifts, supports and empowers one another
- Moving beyond our comfort zones to create meaningful impact locally and globally
Engagement
- Fostering meaningful relationships and emotional investment across and within cultures
- Inspiring active involvement driven by purpose, growth and belonging
- Providing engagement opportunities that meet people where they are
- Creating shared experiences that spark genuine connection and collective support
- Ensuring that engagement and culture strengthen each other to build a connected community
Our Student-Athlete Affinity Groups
Athlete Ally | BIPOC | Every Mind Matters | International Student-Athletes | StriVe | Women's Empowerment | 13 Percent
