Faculty Commitment to Mission A Case Study at Cabrini University

Abstract

Cabrini University has had a commitment to mission derived from a tradition of extensive mission integration since its founding. In 2010, a staff and faculty committee was charged to integrate the mission more fully throughout the campus. The formation of this committee followed soon after the establishment of a mission-centered core curriculum named Justice Matters, which integrates three essential dimensions of Catholic higher education: a tradition of liberal arts, professional preparation for leadership, and the development of moral and ethical graduates who have explored spiritual questions and are committed to creating a more just world. The committee developed a three-phase mission academy, designed to mirror the social justice core curriculum, and implemented three times over a six-year period. Long-term data results indicate positive effects on commitment to mission at Cabrini University as a result of faculty participation in the academy, including a deepening of the integration of mission into the curriculum.