Catholic
Colleges and Universities Catholic campuses draw on faith
If you take the rich resources of
religion and spirituality out of the educational enterprise, something is
missing. Thats why Catholic campuses play key roles in the education of
our nation.
In Catholic colleges there is concerted effort to bring the
religious dimension into the curriculum and into extracurricular activities as
well, Tracy Schier, associate director of the Institute for
Administrators in Catholic Higher Education, told reporters. She was speaking
on the occasion of the first annual gathering of the institute at Boston
College in July.
Presidents, vice-presidents, provosts and deans from 22 Catholic
colleges and universities participated in this one-week institute, which
afforded senior leaders opportunities to explore the principles and traditions
that shape and sustain Catholic higher education and to examine the ways in
which they affect governance, curriculum and student development.
These leaders came to Boston hungry for opportunities to
deepen their understanding of the complex issues facing their institutions in
this time of transition -- and to come away with practical ideas to implement
on their home campuses, Schier said. Topics discussed at the gathering
included: religious and lay leadership in Catholic higher education;
implementing Catholicisms communitarian vision; the Catholic college in
the service of the community; the Vatican document Ex Corde Ecclesiae;
and others.
Schier wants Catholic colleges and universities to continue to
flourish. In my view, the role of Catholic institutions should be to
produce human beings who have a faith dimension to their lives, and who
dont buy totally into the culture of me, me, me! Thats
the Christian tradition: faith, justice and compassion.
In this special issue, NCR surveys the Catholic college and
university landscape. We report on the mood of students and the way Catholic
campuses responded in the wake of the events of Sept. 11. We take a look at the
present status of the mandatum, the official stamp of approval for
theology teachers on Catholic campuses, generated by the Vatican document Ex
Corde Ecclesiae. We look at the introduction of the study of spirituality
and religious issues in course work leading to degrees in social work and
nursing at Loyola University in Chicago and a new initiative at the University
of Dayton in Ohio that offers education on the Internet for diocesan catechists
and others seeking formation in their faith.
-- Rich Heffern
National Catholic Reporter, September 28,
2001
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