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Notre Dame College Self-Study Report

Chapter 2: Understanding the Mission

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Self-Study Report

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2
  • Criterion One - Mission and Integrity
  • Mission Documents
  • Diversity
  • Understanding the Mission
  • Fulfilling the Mission
  • Integrity
  • Considerations
• Chapter 3: Criterion Two - Preparing for the Future
• Chapter 4: Criterion Three - Student Learning & Effective Teaching
• Chapter 5: Criterion Four - Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge
• Chapter 6: Criterion Five - Engagement & Service
• Chapter 7: Conclusions

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  Higher Learning Commission Final Team Report

Core Component: Understanding and support for the mission pervade Notre Dame College.

In the spring of 2006, the College conducted online surveys to gather evidence of the current state of understanding and acceptance of the mission statement. Students, faculty and staff were asked the same questions. The data set for these tables include 217 of 1,232 students, resulting in a response rate of 18 percent. Of the 217 student respondents, 73 percent were full-time traditional students, 24 percent were adult students, and three percent were graduate students.

Fifty faculty members participated in this survey. Thirty-six reported fulltime status, which represents approximately 90 percent of the total fulltime faculty. Fourteen respondents reported part-time or adjunct status.

Sixty-three of approximately 93 staff members, or 68 percent, responded to this survey.

Table 2.5:
Response to the statement,
I understand the mission statement of Notre Dame College
Source: Spring, 2006 Survey

Students, faculty, and staff believe they understand the College’s mission. Nearly 87 percent of the student respondents, 98 percent of the faculty respondents, and 92 percent of the staff respondents strongly agree or agree that they understand the mission.

Table 2.6:
Response to the statement,
I support the mission statement of Notre Dame College
Source: Spring, 2006 Survey

Students, faculty, and staff also support the mission. Nearly 83 percent of the student respondents, 96 percent of the faculty respondents, and 94 percent of the staff respondents report that they support the mission.

The goals and actions of the administration of Notre Dame College are congruent with its mission.

The goals and actions of the administration of Notre Dame College are congruent with its mission. President Roth stresses that the College is mission-driven. In his Inaugural Address he said,

“In fulfilling the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Notre Dame College eloquently answers the great Hebrew sage Hillel’s question: ‘If I am only for me, what am I?’ Notre Dame College avows that we, it, the College is ‘one who serves,’ who serves the underserved and strives to change the world one student at a time. This promise must and will be preserved.”

To accomplish the goal of remaining faithful to the Sisters of Notre Dame and to the Catholic Church, the College has initiated the following:

• The College re-established an office of Campus Ministry in February, 2005. This is the College’s single most dramatic and public reaffirmation of its Catholicity.

The Office of Campus Ministry has accomplished much to bring the College’s mission to life for students, faculty, and staff. The following is a current review of the six ministerial functions of Campus Ministry, as defined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (1985) and acted upon at Notre Dame College.

Function One: Creating Campus Ministry Mission Documents
Campus Ministry Mission: Campus Ministry at Notre Dame College promotes the spiritual growth of all students, faculty, and staff associated with the College. Through the Catholic identity of the institution and the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Campus Ministry seeks to foster personal and spiritual growth through which each person grows in their understanding of themselves, God, and the world. This is accomplished through service to the community around us, worship and prayerful experiences, meaningful activities, and community building.

Welcome Statement: While recognizing the diversity within the Notre Dame College community and the wide spectrum of religious backgrounds therein, Campus Ministry encourages all people to pursue their own spiritual development. Campus Ministry is fundamentally committed to being welcoming and hospitable to all people in our events, liturgies, and activities.

Function Two: Forming the Faith Community
Sunday Night Student Liturgy: This liturgy is held in Providence Hall Chapel, recently renovated in 2005. Student attendance is small but growing with approximately 20 students participating weekly.

All College Prayer Services and Liturgical Celebrations: Prayer services are offered for specific occasions such as the death of Pope John Paul II, the anniversary of September 11, and other memorials. The College celebrates other Eucharistic liturgies for special occasions such as Ash Wednesday, Baccalaureate, before General Meetings, and at other times.

The Notre Dame College Prayer Book is a collection of prayers, meditations, and reflections for the spiritual growth of the college community.

The Campus Ministry Office is located in a high traffic area and has a dedicated lounge for students. Students feel comfortable in the office and spend time interacting with the Campus Minister.

Community Building: Building community around the Campus Ministry program is a priority. Efforts to connect with students include high quality outreach materials, collaboration with college programs, and grass roots organization. Campus Ministry has a dedicated site on the College’s website.

Function Three: Appropriating the Faith Many opportunities are provided each month designed to foster students’ growth in their faith. Examples include small groups brought together for reflection, prayer, faith-sharing, and dialogue; dinners scheduled around special events like Palm Sunday; student organizations such as Students for Life and Koinonia (student-led Bible study); Habitat for Humanity; and the Busy-Student-Retreat.

Function Four: Forming the Christian Conscience As a member of the Student Development staff, the Director of Campus Ministry collaborates with other professionals addressing the complex lives of college students and working to impart a Catholic and ministerial perspective on such issues.

Campus Ministry strives to address the complex moral issues faced by college students in open and non-threatening ways. This is accomplished through relationships with students, Campus Ministry programming, and participation by the Campus Minister in a variety of campus educational programs.

The Director of Campus Ministry teaches in the Theology Department.

Function Five: Educating for Justice FalconCorps, a Campus Ministry service initiative, provides opportunities for students to participate in community service, develop as leaders, and learn about social justice. In December, 2006, The National Catholic Campus Ministry Association chose the Notre Dame College Campus Ministry’s FalconCorps program as the recipient of the award for exemplary program in faith formation.

Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break in 2006 found 17 participants working for a week in Yonkers, New York. In response to Hurricane Katrina, Campus Ministry held a prayer service, donation drive, information table, and offered a card for students to send messages and prayers to Xavier University.

Function Six: Facilitating Personal Development Campus Ministry provides ways for students to integrate their faith and gospel values with their education and development as mature adults. Campus Ministry strives to foster personal development through a Fall retreat focused on the theme of personal vocation; pastoral counseling; encouraging student involvement in planning and implementing the Sunday night student mass; and work-study employment.

• The College offers a daily mass. This is possible through the Reverend Edward Mehok’s presence on campus as an Emeritus faculty member.

• The College instituted a Founders’ Day event to celebrate the heritage and values of the Sisters of Notre Dame. For the past two years a faculty member created a reading that is accompanied with songs sung by the Notre Dame Choir and period photographs from the Archives. Approximately 100 students, Board members, Sisters of Notre Dame from the Chardon Province, faculty, and staff attend this event. Refreshments are served, encouraging the community to socialize.

• The College created three new awards to honor student achievement and service based on the College’s mission. They were awarded for the first time at the 2006 Commencement. The Medal of St. Catherine of Alexandria is awarded by Kappa Gamma Pi to a Master’s Degree candidate on the basis of unusual and unselfish service to the College.
  
  The Sr. Mary Agnes Bosche Award is presented to a traditional undergraduate student. The recipient is chosen based on his or her embodiment of the qualities evident in the life and service of Sr. Mary Agnes Bosche, SND. The recipient must demonstrate honesty and trustworthiness, a commitment to excellence, and selfless service to Notre Dame College and the larger community. The award, a pewter medallion, was designed and struck locally to commemorate Sr. Mary Agnes Bosche’s importance to the College.
  
  The Sr. Mary LeRoy Finn Award is conferred upon an adult student who has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities in and out of the classroom. The recipient must have attained a minimum grade point average of 3.5. He or she must also embody the characteristics important to Sr. LeRoy: scholarly, catalyst, diligent, spiritual, and resilient. These words are inscribed on a presentation bowl created by Sr. Megan Dull, SND, alumna of the College and faculty member.

• Through its Center for Pastoral Theology and Ministry, the College sponsors the annual Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches Seminar. This is the only seminar of its kind in the United States, bringing together clergy and faithful of disparate Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches for theological discussion and communal prayer.

• The College has moved to confront alternatives that shrink away from its religious identity without sacrificing its respect for and honored commitment for diversity. For the last three years, the College mailed Christmas cards and not “Happy Holiday” cards in December. Although a comparatively trivial action, it has elicited extremely positive responses from the College’s alumni.

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