This document is intended to be used by Jesuit universities and colleges in the United States as a tool for self-improvement, particularly with regard totheir fulfillment of their Jesuit and Catholic identity. While this document focuses on the Catholic and Jesuit identity of our schools, it needs to be used in the context of the presupposition that an institution cannot be an excellent Catholic and Jesuit university unless it fulfills its mission to be an excellent university within the American academy, and therefore values highly academic freedom and peer review. With that as a starting point, the document lists seven characteristics appropriate to Jesuit institutions and gives examples of ways in which each characteristic might be observed in concrete terms.
HISTORY
Learn more about Saint Ignatius Loyola, the Society of Jesus, and the Jesuits' focus on education.EDUCATION
Grounded in an almost 500-year tradition, Jesuit colleges and universities have been educating students for centuries. Learn more about Jesuit educational philosophy and its commitment to cura personalis, "care of the whole person"—mind, body and spirit.SPIRITUALITY
Ignatian Spirituality is a way to pray, an approach to making decisions, a point of view about God, and a practical guide to everyday life. Find resources on Ignatian Spirituality here.VALUES
What makes the mission of Jesuit education distinctive? Jesuit colleges and universities are committed to the principles of academic excellence, service and a "faith that does justice." Learn more about the values of Jesuit education here.



