University College Committee
Minutes of March 19, 2008
[Approved April 21, 2008]

Attendance:  L. McSweeney (Chair), Dean E. Wilson, B. Bradford, E. Dryer, E. Langran, C. Pomarico, R. Rodrigues

1.    The meeting was called to order by L. McSweeney at 12:30.

2.    The minutes for the meeting of February 25, 2008 were approved by four members.  There were two abstentions.

3.    The committee perused the mission statements of Georgetown University, Boston College and the University of San Francisco.  A discussion followed.  Professor Bradford stated that Georgetown’s mission statement is “short, tight and descriptive” and that it “captures the essence very distinctly.”  Dean Wilson added that Georgetown’s statement includes their vision for the entire community within the mission for their School of Continuing Studies.

4.    The committee discussed the issue of maintaining a rigorous academic curriculum while meeting the goals of the Jesuit mission.

5.    Dean Wilson noted that a mission statement for University College:
•    Should fit in with the University mission statement.
•    Should link the academic component of the college with opportunities for learning within the larger community.
•    Should note that University College is a gateway for non-traditional students to the rest of the university.
•    Should be seen as a guide for reaching the vision of University College.  Professor Pomarico added that the phrase “global and lifelong learning” might be an important element in the mission statement.

6.    Professor Dreyer handed out a sheet of ideas from the Ignatian tradition that might be relevant for the mission of University College.  Included within the list of ideas were the following:
•    Humanism  & Idealism
•    Reform
•    Service to the poor & Global vision
•    Exploration
•    Hunger for spiritual meaning
•    Experience
•    Self-actualization
•    Use of the imagination
•    Finding God in All Things
•    Discernment and Freedom

7.    Dean Wilson will provide a draft of the UC mission statement for the members of the committee to be taken up at the next meeting.

8.    The meeting was adjourned at 1:30.


Respectively submitted,
Rose P. Rodrigues