Wiley College, the first historically Black college west of the Mississippi, was founded in 1873 by Bishop Issac Wiley of the United Methodist Church and the Freedman's Aid Society to prepare the newly emancipated people for the future. Through a tradition of educational excellence and leadership, Wiley College became a pathway to scholarship, a vista of values, and a bulwark of integrity. Wiley College is committed to providing students with a broad liberal arts and career-oriented education in a Christian environment, promoting teaching and learning excellence, and improving the quality of human experience.