The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Newburgh founded Mount Saint Mary College in 1930. Initially, the college was a Normal and Teacher Training School for the members of the religious community. In 1959 the college charter was amended by the Board of Regents of the State of New York to accept lay students. Since opening its doors in 1960, the college's goals have been the pursuit and dissemination of truth and the development of the capacity to use it. The Mount maintains a firm belief in the value of liberal arts education and a commitment to the Judeo-Christian traditions upon which it was founded. It retains the spirit of the intellectual, cultural, ethical, spiritual and social philosophies of its founders. The college remains on sound footing, supported by meaningful academic programs, prudent fiscal management and a commitment to serving the mid-Hudson Valley. Mount Saint Mary College has a respected position in the region. The college's mission is to form a vital academic community characterized by the attitude that learning is a lifelong process. This process involves the ongoing acquisition of knowledge, skills and experience and a continuing selection of values and a commitment to a value system.