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Return to About AJCU > Resources and Publications > Mission and Identity Activity at Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States > Table of Contents
Regis University
1. Contact Person: Tom Reynolds, Vice President for Mission. (303) 458-4087. treynold@regis.edu
2. University Mission Statement:
Regis University educates men and women of all ages to take leadership
roles and to make a positive impact in a changing society. Standing within
the Catholic and United States traditions, we are inspired by the particular
Jesuit vision of Ignatius Loyola. This vision challenges us to attain the inner
freedom to make intelligent choices.
We seek to provide value-centered graduate and undergraduate education,
as well as to strengthen our commitment to community service. We nurture the
life of the mind and the pursuit of truth within an environment conducive to ef-
fective teaching, learning, and personal development. Consistent with
Judeo-Christian principles, we apply knowledge to human needs and seek
to preserve the best of the human heritage. We encourage the continual
search for truth, values and a just existence. Throughout this process, we
examine and attempt to answer the question: “How ought we to live?”
As a consequence of Ignatius Loyola’s vision, particularly as reflected in his
Spiritual Exercises, we encourage all members of the Regis community to
learn proficiently, think logically and critically, identify and choose personal
standards of values, and be socially responsible. We further encourage the de-
velopment of skills and leadership abilities necessary for distinguished pro-
fessional work and contributions to the improvement and transformation of
society.
Notes: The full Mission Statement also includes a philosophy statement
on the Core Undergraduate Educational Experience; a Graduate Philosophy
Statement; Educational Goals and Outcomes; Corporate Behavioral Goals.
See also “Tradition,” for fuller discussion of the Regis mission and identity as a
Jesuit, Catholic University.
3. Organizational Structure for Mission/Identity Activities:
*The Vice President for Mission oversees the offices of University Ministry,
Justice Education, Ignatian Spirituality, Diversity, Colorado Campus Compact,
and the Institute on the Common Good. He/she also chairs the Mission
Coordinating Team, which includes the above offices, as well as the Offices of
Service Learning in each of the University’s three schools. The Vice President
reports to President.
*The Vice President for Mission and Student Development is also
responsible for promoting mission awareness in new faculty hiring,
sponsoring faculty/staff orientation and development opportunities,
sponsoring Ignatian retreats and reflections, coordinating contacts
with national and regional Jesuit conferences and programs, mission
publications, promoting curricular initiatives and other on-going edu-
cational events. Also represents Regis with regional/national Jesuit entities
and serves on boards of local Jesuit sponsored high school, grade school.
*Additional faculty/staff events during the year are coordinated by the Jesuit
Mission Group, a volunteer committee that sponsors dinners and speakers
throughout the year. Funding provided by the VP for Mission.
*The Board of Trustees committee structure includes a committee on
Jesuit, Catholic Mission/Identity, which meets at each board session
on a quarterly basis. The Vice President for Mission serves as liaison to this
committee.
4. Hiring and Orienting for Mission:
*”Hiring for Mission” guidelines provided for faculty-administrator search committees. Candidates for full-time faculty and key administrative positions are sent copies of the University’s mission documents, including “Tradition.” They are asked to write a mission response statement, indicating how their prior experiences and commitments prepare them to contribute to the University mission. The VP for Mission or his/her designee interviews all finalists for such positions and provides recommendations to search committees, deans, etc.
*New trustees undergo an orientation day, including a session on mission.
Each trustee meeting includes a mission reflection and report from the
Trustee Committee on Mission and Identity. Each June, a full day is reserved
during the board retreat weekend for mission/identity topics or reflections.
*Monthly new employee orientations include a segment on the University’s
Jesuit, Catholic identity
*New full-time faculty have a weekend retreat on mission prior to the start
of the academic year. At the end of their first year, they then participate in a
new faculty seminar, which addresses mission issues, the University’s Jesuit,
Catholic identity, traditions of religious higher education in America, etc.
*Affiliate faculty in the School for Professional Studies participate in assessment and orientation weekends that include mission presentations. They may also take free courses in Catholic Studies, Jesuit Spirituality, or participate in that College’s Ignatian Scholars annual sequence of monthly seminars.
*Traditional undergraduate students attend sessions on the University’s
Jesuit tradition during their Fall Freshman Writing Seminars
5. On-Going Educational Programs:
*Faculty-staff “Conversations” dinners focused on each theme of the magazine.
*Jesuit House dinner conversations twice a year with faculty/staff
*National Jesuit Student Leader Conference participation
*Faculty participate each year as delegates to Western Conversations (Fall) and
Heartland-Delta (Spring) Conversations Weekends; Magis and Colleague
retreats; Collegium, and Colleagues in Jesuit Business education.
*Faculty/Staff delegations to the Heartland Program, held every three years
*Institute on the Common Good Annual Speaker Series—Nobel Peace Laureates
*Catholic Studies Lecture Series—“Catholicism in the Modern World,” with 3-4
speakers per semester. Open to the public.
*Annual St. Ignatius Day event, each July 31, with a focus on University staff.
*Participation of select faculty/nominees in the Ignatian Colleague Program,
Ignatian Leadership Seminar, and other AJCU/ ACCU programs.
*Dialogue series sponsored by the Institute on the Common Good and Diversity Office.
6. Integration of Mission/Identity in Curricular Programs:
*The Offices of Service Learning, one in each of the three schools, report
to their respective Deans, and are charged with integrating service learning
opportunities into appropriate courses and with providing faculty development
in these areas.
*Undergraduate Core Education requirements have been reshaped during 2008-10
to include 4 themes that reflect Jesuit mission traditions: the Search for Meaning,
Well educated Justice and Solidarity, Diversity, and Sustaining the Earth.
*The Justice Education Coordinator similarly sponsors faculty development
programs to promote understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and awareness
of social justice issues in the curriculum
*Catholic Studies promotes inter-disciplinary course development of courses
in the undergraduate College and School for Professional Studies
*Annul Fall Faculty Development Conferences typically incorporate workshops on how to integrate mission themes of service, justice, spirituality into the curriculum and student contacts.
7. Ignatian Spirituality Activities:
*Annual University or Province Colleague Retreats each July at the Jesuit Retreat center in Sedalia, Colorado (July, 2010); Magis National Retreat (June, 2010)
*Student Retreat programs for undergraduates. Typically four retreats per
semester. 200+ annual participants.
*Retreats in Everyday Life for students each Spring (15-20 students). Days of
Reflection for faculty/staff twice per year (20-25 each session)
*Ignatian “Lightworks,” a fourteen week evening series of presentations on Ignatian spirituality offered each year.
*Departmental reflection days, as requested. Typically 4-5 departments per year.
8. Publications, Materials used in mission activities:
*Multiple uses and copies of “Shared Visions,” “Ignatian Pedagogy,” and Life of
Ignatius DVD series.
*”Tradition” --Used in Faculty hiring and orientation programs
*”Foundations—The Jesuit Tradition at Regis University.” Used in new
employee orientations
*”The Catholic and Jesuit Mission of Regis University” Pamphlet used in new
student orientation programs.
*”Coming to Terms with the Mission—The Catholic and Jesuit University
in America”
*Use of Jesuit Education Reader and Ignatian Spirituality Reader
*”Communal Reflections”—AJCU publication on Jesuit Higher Education
9. Recognition Awards:
*Civis Princeps—First Citizen award given to community member at commencement
*Alumni Service Award—given at commencement
*Annual faculty/staff service awards
*Riordan Christian Peace award and Imhoff community service awards given
during annual student honors ceremony
10. Evaluations of Mission Effectiveness:
*Alumni surveys designed for undergraduates in all three schools now focus on major mission appropriation questions. First administration, spring and fall, 2006
*Inclusion as major criteria for current North Central regional accreditation self-study
*Program specific assessment processes.
*CIRP and NSSE Jesuit identity questions
*Annual student and employer surveys that include outcome questions
on service and social responsibility in graduates
11. Other Mission Projects:
*Support for two Jesuit-sponsored ventures in Denver—Arrupe Jesuit
High School, a Cristo Rey model high school serving the inner city
Poor, and Escuela de Guadalupe, a dual language, independent Catholic
Grade school. Similar partnerships being coordinated this year by mission and
diversity offices with other community agencies serving first generation students
*Faith in Art” Project: Mission office sponsorship of religious art in classrooms,
meeting rooms and corridors. Installation of outdoor public sculptures on Jesuit
themes. Religious art budget allotments in all new buildings or major
renovations on main campus.
*”Mission Leave.” Employees are entitled to three full paid leave days
per calendar year in addition to vacation or sick time. Must be used for
mission reflection experiences, retreats or sponsored community service
events.
*Student Emergency Review process to assist students in financial distress being
coordinated by VP for Mission with other key University departments.
Posted 7/26/2010
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