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Gonzaga University

Contact Information

Rev. Frank E. Case, SJ, Vice President for Mission
E-mail: casef@gonzaga.edu
Phone: (509) 313-6112

Rev. Craig Hightower, SJ, Director, University Ministry
E-mail: hightower@gonzaga.edu
Phone: (509) 313-4245

Shanea Giroux, Assistant to the Vice President for Mission
E-mail: giroux@gonzaga.edu
Phone: (509) 313-6191

Mission Statement

Gonzaga's Mission Statement reads, in part:

As humanistic, we recognize the essential role of human creativity, intelligence, and initiative in the construction of society and culture. As Catholic, we affirm the heritage which has developed through two thousand years of Christian living, theological reflection, and authentic interpretation. As Jesuit, we are inspired by the vision of Christ at work in the world, transforming it by His love, and calling men and women to work with Him in loving service of the human community.

All these elements of our tradition come together within the sphere of free intellectual inquiry characteristic of a university. At Gonzaga, this inquiry is primarily focused on Western culture, within which our tradition has developed.

Structure

• Mission Advisory Group, composed of six appointed faculty and staff, and two co-chairs, also appointed, reports to University President's Office
• Search Committee currently reviewing candidates for the permanent position of Vice President for Mission
• Office of University Ministry reports to VP for Student Life with direct access to the Mission Advisory Group and the President as well
• Director of Ignatian Programs reports to Mission Advisory Group
• Community Center for Action & Social Learning (C.C.A.S.L) Office reports to VP for Student Life with direct access as well to the President
• Jesuit Community assists the University Ministry office with liturgical and retreat programs, however has no particular reporting structure to them
• Resident Chaplains report to University Ministry

Orientation Programs

• New Employee orientation: Mission and Identity presentation
• New student Orientation: Mission and Identity presentation as well as University Ministry programming introductions
• Administration and Staff: Mission and Identity workshops
• Faculty & Staff: Ignatian Colleagues and Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL)
• New Day-Long Faculty Retreat under construction
• New Trustee Orientation Program under construction
• New Regent Orientation Program under construction

Ongoing Educational Programs

• Ignatian Colleagues Dinners for Faculty and Staff
• University Ministry Speakers Series for Gonzaga Community
• Yearly Bellarmine Lecture on Religion, Culture, and Law 
  Retreat and liturgical opportunities for students, alumni, faculty and staff
• Social justice and service programs through C.C.A.S.L., including the annual Social Justice Plunge and spring break Mission:Possible excursions
• Faith and Reason lecture series
• Conversations on “Conversations”
• Western Conversations Conferences for Faculty
• Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education annual conferences for School of Business Administration faculty, administration and staff

Integration of M&I into the Curriculum and Academic Programs

• Service Learning in more than 40 courses per semester
• Social Justice requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education
• Business Ethics requirement in the School of Business Administration

Spiritual Exercises/Retreats

• Faculty and Staff Ignatian Colleagues (4 times / year about 50 participants per session)
• Christian Life Communities
• Annual Pilgrimage
• Freshman Retreats
• SEARCH Retreats
• Cardoner Regreats (4 weekends per year, contemplative retreats structured on the Jesuit Examen)
• Monserrat Retreats (silent retreats grounded in the Spiritual Exercises,offered 3 weekends per year for students, faculty and staff
• Busy Students Retreat (offered during Lent)
• S.E.E.L Program which is coordinated through the Jesuit Community, University, Jesuit Parish, Province, and Gonzaga Prep (20 participants a year-many from the city)

Publications, Audio-visual Materials Developed and/or Used

Watson, S.J., Fr. William. Inviting God Into Your Life: A Practical Guide for Prayer. Paulist Press, 2003. A practical guidebook for praying that discusses prayer's content, place, routine, and ritual.

“Shared Inspiration,” published in 2011 by the Gonzaga chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu as a project to share the reflections of the Gonzaga Jesuits and religious on scholarship, loyalty and service. 

Recognition Awards and Scholarships

• Student Ignatian Award for Service (1 student per year)
• Ignatian Leadership Scholarship (20 granted each year to incoming students with a $4000 a year tuition credit to winners)
• Catholic Ignatian Leadership Scholarship (3 granted each year to incoming students with $2000 a year tuition credit to winners)
• Outstanding Service in Support of Mission Award (presented twice per year, each time to two staff members)
• Social Justice Missioning Ceremony (at commencement for seniors who will be engaged in volunteer or social service endeavors after graduation).

Evaluation of Effectiveness

Gonzaga University developed a strategic plan (Vision 2012) in response to the 2004 reaccreditation by NWCCU and is engaged in “a concentrated effort to develop a culture of assessment.” The degree to which the strategic plan is implemented will tell us how we are achieving our mission. Four core themes have been developed, and methods to measure their success have been articulated. A report for the next reaccreditation review, including changes since 2004, has been prepared, and work on the next document is underway.

Updated: 10/5/11