COMMUNITY ENGAGED STUDENT LEARNING
In September the Community Engaged Student Learning (CESL) team was formed to intentionally and strategically align the long-standing student programs in the Ignatian Center. The team created shared learning outcomes and are developing a pipeline of opportunities to diversify programming and support student growth.
Immersions
The immersions team offered 9 immersion trips with 83 participants and 10 companions. Groups traveled to two new immersion locations - Flint, Michigan to focus on grassroots empowerment and Chiapas, Mexico to learn about indigenous sovereignty and human rights.
Arrupe Engagement
Students completed over 11,000 hours of community engagement through Arrupe courses, supporting 45 community partners. Additionally, four students continued their Arrupe placement from Fall quarter to Winter quarter through the Ignatian Fellowship.
Thriving Neighbors
As it enters its second decade, Thriving Neighbors pivoted to a model that deploys SCU’s academic and institutional strengths to promote long standing, mutually beneficial relationships. For instance, we launched 'Better Together,' a train-the-trainers program that gives local community leaders the tools and skills to promote mental health in their community, coached by a SCU research team.
Student Fellowships
19 students served as Ignatian Fellows during winter quarter supporting organizations in communities around Santa Clara. 15 students are serving as Jean Donovan Fellows this summer, with three students doing an advanced fellowship supporting Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and Yomol A’tel in Chilón, Chiapas, Mexico.
IGNATIAN FORMATION
The Ignatian Formation team launched this year in response to the needs of the campus community, with the creation of new positions for Ignatian Spirituality and Mission integration to build upon the work of the Bannan Forum. The team has implemented new offerings to expand opportunities for faculty and staff to explore and engage with Ignatian practices and values, with more than 450 faculty and staff participating in programs this year.
Ignatian Spirituality
In addition to continuing popular programs like 'Search for What Matters,' we were able to expand opportunities for faculty and staff to deepen their spirituality through Ignatian practices. Particularly important was the ability to offer two overnight retreats for 54 faculty and staff to rest, reflect, and recharge during the year.
Mission Integration
New programs and workshops were created to better help staff explore the relationship between SCU’s mission and their work on campus. In addition to individual formation opportunities in mission and leadership; presentations, workshops and retreats were customized for departments and divisions to more fully integrate key Jesuit values and the Ignatian perspective into their work.
Bannan Forum
The Bannan Forum continued to offer public lectures, seminars, and events to engage pressing contemporary issues through the lens of our Jesuit, Catholic mission. In addition, we offered over $30,000 in grants to support mission-centered projects led by faculty and staff from across the institution.
