Faculty Share Centrality of Jesuit Mission in School and College Panel Discussions

Last academic year, a faculty task force explored what makes a SLU education distinctive and in May put forward a baccalaureate vision statement, endorsed by the provost and Faculty Senate. This year, faculty members are at work in their home colleges and schools, sharing with their colleagues the centrality of the Jesuit mission to the work they do in their academic disciplines.

The 15 members of the Faculty Mission Liaison Committee, called together by Christopher Collins, S.J., assistant to the president for mission and identity, are engaging their home colleges and schools in conversations related to the baccalaureate vision statement.

A panel has already been held in the School of Education, and two more are planned for this week, in the School of Nursing and Chaifetz School of Business. 

“Response was very positive,” said John James, Ed.D., associate professor of education, who organized a five-person panel in the School of Education during the lunch hour on Oct. 13. “People who attended were saying we need to talk about this again.” 

The vision statement reads, “As SLU faculty, our vision for the baccalaureate degree programs we offer is to provide an educational experience that helps actualize in each student a well-developed mind, a generous heart, and a reflective soul.”

Members noted that some of their peer faculty who teach graduate students might see this as an undergraduate document and ask if this is relevant to what they do. But the statement, committee members agreed, is true for anyone who graduates from SLU, not just undergraduates, because it speaks to the formation of the whole person. 

The School of Nursing will host a brown bag lunch at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in SON 019, with panelists Dean Teri Murray and professors Julie Bertram and Joanne Langan sharing their thoughts on one of the three desired outcomes of a SLU education: a generous heart, a well-developed mind and a reflective soul.

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business’ panel discussion is set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in DS 373. It will feature Dean Mark Higgins, professors Jim Fisher and Chris Thomas, academic advisor Brittany Ludwig, and student Adele Schenk.

Read a full explanation of the baccalaureate vision statement here. 

Contact Mary Flick, C.S.J., at flickmj@slu.edu for additional information.