Catholic Social Thought Transition Committee Meeting Summary

Date, Time and Location:
Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 1:00 – 2:00, KIPJ-I

Present: Stephen Conroy, Sr. Gina Rodee, Pilar Aquino, Pamela Gray Payton, Frank Jacobitz, Lupita Jewell, Michael Lovette-Colyer, Jan Morris, Linda Peterson, Sr. Barbara Quinn, Steve Staninger, Greg Zackowski; Guest: Dr. Julie Sullivan; Staff: Larry Gardepie

Absent: Msgr. Daniel Dillabough, Elaine Elliott, David Herrera, Kelly Martin, Nina Sciuto

Agenda or Key Discussion Items:

Introductions

Center for Catholic Thought and Culture (CCTC) Dr. Julie Sullivan presented the following information regarding the proposed CCTC:

It is important to realize that the creation of the CCTC is an evolving process. Since last spring, Julie has solicited input from the CST co-chairs (Sr. Gina Rodee and Stephen Conroy), deans, Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, the vice presidents, the president, the University Senate, and Dr. Barbara Wall.
The draft document may have been taken as “concrete” whereas it was intended to evolve. For this reason a current document is not available to distribute at this meeting. It is important to focus on the dialogue, allowing the process to evolve, rather than the document that can be misunderstood.
We want to go forward with the Center. The Center will allow us to engage in a dialogue about the intellectual, social, cultural, and spiritual heritage of the university. The center must be multidimensional – similar to the centers at Villanova and St. Thomas.
The first discussion with Gina and Steve focused on the Center being more than a “Center for CST.” The CCTC should have a broad focus incorporating the many dimensions noted earlier.
The CCTC mission must be one of outreach to all USD constituents and the broader San Diego community: faculty, staff, students, and the broader community.
At the beginning, the Center may focus on new activities for the faculty – to engage them in this dialogue. This is not the only mission of the Center. Currently, new faculty attend sessions on the Catholic identity of USD. We want to expand this discussion with new activities for a wider audience. There have been some CST programs that focus on faculty and other programs that invite a wider audience. There have been faculty development seminars and recently, the workshop conducted by Barbara Wall. The Center can include seminars that explore specific issues (e.g., the Church’s contribution to sustainability, health care, status of migrants) – thematic seminars and workshops.
When inviting speakers to campus, we want to expose the themes, topics, lectures, and seminars to broad constituent groups – again, similar to what the CST committee planned with Barbara Wall’s visit to USD.
We could envision the Center sponsoring educational trips: e.g., trips to Spain or Rome to look at the medieval influences within our heritage, where some of the current thinking began.
The first year of the Center may explore new activities that could become institutionalized.
We must recognize that a lot is going already on campus. The Center could become the “nerve center” to help coordinate and leverage these activities. Everything cannot be done through the Center, but we need to look at new ways to reach out to faculty, students, and staff. The Center’s director could become a convener, communicator, or organizer of activities, focusing on the maximum impact and leverage of what is happening. Everything does not have to go through this person.
Another question that has been discussed a lot is how to do this organizationally. We must be flexible in how we set up the Center. Current thought is that the director would report directly to Julie.
The intent right now is to look for a director that is “faculty qualified.” The reasoning: in looking for a person that understands the breadth and depth of the Catholic heritage, the scales tip toward a faculty-qualified individual.
In talking with Barbara Wall, the director may need to teach 1-2 courses a year, i.e., we may want this person to have some teaching responsibilities.
Steve C. and Julie elaborated on how the Center ended up in Academic Affairs and reporting to Julie.

The CST Committee presented 3 proposals last year. The discussion on each proposal centered on the academic milieu.
This raised the question of where the Center would belong even within Academic Affairs. The Center should have a larger focus than any one school. For instance, if the Center were placed under the College of Arts and Sciences, the other schools may be “off the hook.”
Now that the Center has an academic home, a question and concern that continues to surface is whether the Center will become just academic thought or discourse – or will we follow the Jesuit model of discussion followed by action.

Discussion and questions:

Question: when would the director be on board?
Responses:

Thinking about fall 2008.
In talking with Barbara Wall, there are merits of starting with an internal candidate. If we were to focus on internal person, person could start earlier.

Observation: It took Santa Clara University 2 ½ years to hire their director after the previous director left the position. The SCU Center reports directly to the president and has the multidimensional aspect mentioned earlier.
Responses:

The USD organizational structure is still under discussion. Current thought is that Dr. Lyons, Julie, Carmen, and Dan would collectively set the direction of the Center and assess the progress; Julie would be responsible for the director and the day-to-day operations; the executive committee would have a lot of involvement.
Important that the Center plans two years out: possibly focusing on a specific theme and communicating that theme to other areas. Because of the collaborative nature of the Center, it may not be right to fall only under Julie; may need more flexibility – example: reporting to executive committee and Julie.

Observation: Barbara Wall has a holistic view: CST is a way of life; there is a broad community outreach as well as an internal focus; Villanova tests the integrity of displaying what is claimed through their values; a sense of stewardship; and a faith-in-action model.
Responses:

We would hope that USD’s model would be as pervasive, showing up everywhere. Important that every area of campus understands and incorporates Catholic thought and culture. This is an insertion approach rather than an isolated center approach. Barbara Wall talked about the full aspects of life; faculty teaching in local prison; students tutoring; focusing university resources on the community.
The classroom has to be a part of this equation.

Observation: The recent faculty workshop with Barbara Wall generated excitement and enthusiasm through the workshop dialogue. Limit of 15 people who could attend: had a waiting list; turned some people away. Generated good ideas on how to incorporate CST into the syllabus. Helps a Catholic university understand its Catholic identity.
Question: Barbara Wall emphasized hiring to the mission: evident in the Villanova website (recruitment website) and that Barbara is integral in helping to participate and develop. Is this an expectation of the CCTC director?
Response:

Julie had not been part of that discussion. There are other things to do before considering this: example, we need to have an active center that engages us in this discussion.

Question: Have we considered mechanisms to appoint director? In some instances at USD a dean appoints the director of a center. Will this be a process where faculty are involved (i.e., nominate, elect)? What approach will USD take: appointed by VP or democratic process? Internal appointment versus external recruitment?
Responses:

This has not been discussed.
Some on the CST committee would like to be involved.
Important to have discussion across the schools and college.
If we decide to have an external search, would include broad participation.
If we decide to look internally, the process may look different. In the past, the internal approach has not been as formal as the external process. Instead, tend to talk to key people who are interested. May want to start with a term and see how it works out. This does not mean that the person has to be the director forever; can be renewed. Important to have a review process in place with renewal options. Accountability is vital.

Observation (follow up discussion on Barbara Wall workshop): Very heartening event! People who participated wanted to incorporate CST into a portion of their syllabus. There was an openness to the discussion, a positive spirit; very hopeful. Must remember that the Center is a work in progress. As it develops over time, there will be many additions and changes; possibilities to grow in new ways. Important to begin well, and then continue evolving. Want to integrate into the fabric of the university; become pervasive. This takes time; the workshop was a beginning.
Observation (referring to CST committee meeting with Barbara Wall): Barbara mentioned that USD has a tremendous opportunity with the School of Peace Studies (SPS). We may want to house the Center in this school to bring together all areas that are related: SPS is intended to be cross-disciplinary, all schools involved. It may not be necessarily that the director report to Dean Headly, but include the SPS dean.

May want to include Dean Headly on the Center’s executive committee. Maybe want to rotate deans on the committee.
Concern with housing the Center in SPS.
May want to designate certain classes as C-courses (like D- and W-courses), but could become a checklist rather than infusing discussion throughout campus.
Concede to other colleagues, but may want to move Center within SPS in the future since SPS incorporates all schools.

Observation: CCTC will help us understand and enhance the university’s Catholic identity. It will bring to light specific features of the university. Barbara Wall suggested that we look at the context of where USD is located: California missions (north and south), contributions of the Franciscans, San Diego. Center can help us address this context: different avenues to explore this context (e.g., work with faculty who know about SD history).
Observation: We can only partially shape or plant ideas for the Center. We need the reaction of the community: we need ideas from the larger community. A broad base discussion of the Center will happen in the reaction.
Question: Is there a model at USD of a center like we are discussing?
Response:

TBI and CEE have a single reporting line. Internationalization is focus but has a single reporting line.
The president and vice presidents often times have common goals they are all working on. This Center could become a common goal that is reported to Board.
Collective leadership and support could be issues.

Question: There were similarities last year in the CCTC and CST proposals, a discussion on CST’s role in the CCTC structure, and some concern that CST may be diminished in the new Center. Should the Center report to the president rather than the academic division?
Response:

The president liked the approach of the executive board being involved in the direction of the Center. It would be the president’s decision on where the Center is placed organizationally.

Observation: CCTC may become a retention tool for faculty: like the campus because of experiences service learning One group that could be overlooked is the staff: important to involve the staff, invite to events, encourage to participate in service learning projects.
Questions/Observations: Will CST be lost in the new Center? In looking at the possible new title, Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, wonder where Catholic social thought is represented. “Culture” is so broad, generic; “Thought” doesn’t fully convey Catholic social thought. Title doesn’t make sense. CST should be considered a pillar of the Center, helping engage us in the social, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of the Center. Suggestion: should the title be “Catholic Social Thought and Culture?”
Responses:

One aspect of the Center is the public discourse. Dr. Lyon’s inaugural address painted a broad vision. Boston College uses the public forum and its resources to address common concerns.
The Center’s vision needs to be set up as broadly as possible: faith and reason; stem cell research; topics will cross many boundaries.

Suggestion: May want to invite Julie to future CST Transition Committee meetings to continue this discussion.

Final comments by Julie:

Julie invited committee members to call or e-mail additional ideas regarding the Center.
She emphasized that the vision of the Center will continue to evolve as the dialogue continues. She invited participation in the evolution.

Announcement
Steve C. encouraged committee members to attend the CST talk on Friday, November 4th: wine and cheese - 4:00; Dean Bill Headly will begin the talk at 4:30. Location: Copley Library. Intended audience: faculty and staff. Will be video recorded.

Upcoming Meetings: Dates, Times and Potential Agenda Items

Friday, November 30, 9:00 – 10:00, KIPJ-H

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