Return to About AJCU > Resources and Publications > Mission and Identity Activity at Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States > Table of Contents

Seattle University

Mission: Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.

Vision: We will be the premier independent university of the Northwest in academic quality, Jesuit Catholic inspiration, and service to society.

Structure

Vice President for Mission and Ministry (Patrick J. Howell, SJ): The university created a new division and named a Vice President for Mission and Ministry in 2000. The division includes campus ministry, the Office of Jesuit Identity, MAGIS (Alumni Committed for Mission), and the University Chaplain. The Vice President serves on the Executive Team, the Executive Council (Deans and VPs), Board of Regents and the Campus Life committee of the Board of Trustees.

Office of Jesuit Identity (Joe Orlando): The office of Jesuit Identity coordinates the programs reflecting the Jesuit identity of the university. Contact 206-296-6133 or jorlando@seattleu.edu

Campus Ministry (Mary Romer): Campus Ministry consists of a director and nine full-time professional ministers. The campus ministry program is directed toward the student community at the university. Contact 206-296-6075

Magis:  Alumni Committed for Mission (Mike Bayard, S.J. & Erin Swezey) - Through programs, events, seminars and a network of collaborative partnerships, Magis fosters a sense of connectedness and community among all and any alumni of Jesuit schools living in the Puget Sound Region while engaging them in Jesuit mission and in Ignatian habits of lifelong learning, leadership, spirituality, and service. Contact 206-296-2637 or magis@seattleu.edu

University Chaplain (Pat O'Leary, S.J.) - The University chaplain provides a pastoral outreach to the faculty and staff of the university. The chaplain also serves as the alumni chaplain. Contact 206-296-5315

Orientation Programs

The new faculty institute is a first-year program to acquaint new faculty members with the university and to create a community of educators. In the fall, new faculty participates in four days of seminars that relate their teaching and scholarship to the mission and vision of the university. In addition to the beginning seminars, faculty meets twice each quarter for additional discussions on the mission and pedagogy. Jesuit Mission and Identity provides staff orientation to the mission.  It offers one session for all new staff members, followed later on by a luncheon, where more is shared about the ethos of the University.

Ongoing Educational Programs

The Office of Mission and Ministry cooperates with various chairs within the university to sponsor lectures, symposia, workshops and seminars. The Gaffney Chair focuses on issues from the perspective of Ignatian spirituality in the Jesuit educational tradition. Campus Ministry sponsors the annual Joseph Maguire, SJ lecture on social justice.

Founded by Catholic laymen in 1985 after the US Bishops' Pastoral on Economic Justice, the Justice Education Forum offers a significant annual lecture and related programs around the campus for alumni, local leaders, faculty and students to dialogue on justice concerns.

Since 1989 "Colleagues," Jesuits and lay people, have gathered five times a year in the context of a social and dinner to discuss issues of importance touching on the vision and mission of the University.  About 200 belong to this group of "Colleagues in Jesuit Higher Education," with 65 to 70 attending each event.

The Formation Seminars division assists university units with a variety of programs for on-going formation in the Jesuit and Catholic identity of the University. The programs generally consist of a brief in-service presentation with an opportunity for questions and answers.

Arrupe Seminar

Sponsored by the Jesuit Community, the Seminar attracts about 35 faculty and staff each year.  It is designed to promote: (1) understanding of the Jesuit educational tradition and of Jesuits, (2) assimilation of the knowledge and values of the tradition, (3) application of what one learns and assimilates to the carrying out of one's role at the University, and (4) commitment to carrying on the tradition. It offers an experience that is both scholarly and personal, requiring a significant amount of reading, discussion, and personal reflection, and including presentations by people knowledgeable in the Jesuit tradition.

Western Conversations

Seattle University participates with Regis University, Loyola Marymount University, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Gonzaga University, in "Western Conversations" which is composed of faculty from the various Jesuit campuses who meet once a year for critical discussions on the Jesuit/Catholic education.

Integration of M&I into Curriculum and Academic Programs

The university offers courses in Ignatian spirituality, Jesuit history, and so forth. The School of Theology and Ministry and the Theology/Religious Studies department are cooperative in advancing important themes in Catholic social teaching. Most all the colleges and schools have significant commitments to social justice programs.  For instance, the School of Education requires a Social Justice course for all their graduate degrees.  The Law School has a nationally recognized Access to Justice program.

The Office of Jesuit Identity sponsors a yearly immersion experience to Nicaragua during spring break. Approximately 15 members of the faculty and staff attend each year, and at this time over 65 members of the university community have participated in the program. The university has a relationship with the University of Central America in Managua.   The university is also a partner in the "twinning" arrangement of the Colombia and Oregon Jesuit Provinces with Gonzaga and the Javeriana University (Bogota and Cali).

Spiritual Exercises/Retreats

A weekend directed Ignatian Silent Retreat is offered for faculty, administration and staff (with spouses) on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Usually, 30-35 participate, with six directors.

The University in collaboration with the "Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life" (SEEL) program offers the full Exercises (19th annotation.  Five or six from Seattle University make the retreat, directed by lay people, each year on full scholarship.

A Day of Prayer is also offered for Alumni/ae.   Student retreats, especially the Ignatian silent retreats are open to faculty, administrators, and staff. 

Campus Ministry provides opportunities for students to make an Ignatian retreat (2-day, 3-day or 5-day) each year.

Many opportunities exist for spiritual direction.

The Ignatian Spirituality Center offers the Novena of Grace on the campus in the spring.

Publications, Audio-visual materials Developed and/or Used

We have revised and improved the Mission and Ministry web site.  It will be updated (Fall 2007) and we are in the process of developing ways to use technology more effectively.

Recognition Awards

The university has created an assessment office and the division will work with the Office of Assessment in developing appropriate evaluation systems.

Campus Ministry participated in the CARA program to evaluate campus ministry.