Team from Peer Jesuit Institutions Visits SLU as Part of Review of University's Mission
10/28/2024
ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University wrapped its year-long institutional process of discernment with an on-site peer visit this week. The visit was conducted by colleagues from three peer Jesuit universities.
The three-person team was chaired by Mardell A. Wilson, Ed.D., provost at Creighton University. Wilson served as the Dean of the Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences at SLU from 2014 to 2020. Additional reviewers include Daniel R. J. Joyce, S.J., vice president of Mission and Ministry at Saint Joseph’s University, and Michael Serazio, Ph.D., professor of Communication at Boston College.
From left, Daniel R. J. Joyce, S.J., vice president of Mission and Ministry at Saint Joseph’s University, and Thomas Curran, S.J., provincial co-assistant for higher education, during a meeting with Student Development on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Photo by Maggie Rotermund.
The Mission Priority Examen (MPE) is a self-led process intended to reaffirm a Jesuit university’s commitment to its Catholic, Jesuit mission and the ways the University might continue to live out the mission in the future. The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and the North American Jesuit Provincials have established the MPE for Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and Belize, a process requested by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
“The four days with the peer review team were a tremendous experience of the shared commitment to SLU’s mission, and the interaction with the four members of the team was meaningful, valuable, and hopeful,” said Virginia Herbers, director of mission formation at SLU and MPE steering committee co-chair. “Thank you to all who showed up for those sessions.”
Students from SLU's Catholic Studies Center talk with the MPE team during a site visit on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Photo by Maggie Rotermund.
The MPE process was launched in December 2023, at the invitation of Thomas P. Greene, S.J., provincial superior of the Central and Southern Province.
Read more about the MPE process
The MPE process is grounded in the examen, a practice of Ignatian reflection, and invites the campus community to reflect upon areas of strength in embodying SLU’s Jesuit, Catholic identity and opportunities for deepening SLU’s mission. SLU last conducted the MPE in 2018-19.
Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.
Latest Newslink
- Two SLU Faculty Members Receive Emerson's Excellence in Teaching AwardTwo Saint Louis University faculty members received Emerson's 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award. Jennifer Buehler, Ph.D. (Education) and Christina Garcia, Ph.D. (Spanish) were both recognized for their teaching prowess. The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards Program recognizes educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area annually for their leadership in and passion for teaching, their contributions to student learning, and their knowledge and creativity.
- Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship Names Two to Entrepreneurship Hall of FameThe Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University inducted two new members to its Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame at a dinner on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.
- SLU's School of Education Partners with St. Louis Catholic Academy to Support Middle School EducationSaint Louis University's School of Education has partnered with St. Louis Catholic Academy, beginning a first-of-its-kind affiliation for SLU's School of Education. The SLU School of Education will provide resources to St. Louis Catholic Academy's middle school, starting with the current school year.
- SLU Study: Integrative Palliative Care Critical to Improve Mental Health Among Pancreatic Cancer PatientsFor patients facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, a compassionate approach to care can be transformative. Yet, a new study published in Healthcare reveals that palliative care, a service focused on enhancing the quality of life for those with serious illnesses, remains significantly underutilized among pancreatic cancer patients in the United States.
- SLU Study: Black Patients with Heart Failure Less Likely to Receive Palliative CareA study by researchers at Saint Louis University shows that only one in eight patients with heart failure in the United States receive palliative care consultations within five years of diagnosis. The study also highlighted significant racial and geographic disparities. Black people were 15% less likely to receive palliative care compared to their white counterparts.
- School of Science and Engineering Students Show Off Their Pumpkin ProwessStudents in SLU's School of Science and Engineering participated in a Halloween innovation challenge, carving pumpkins that represented STEM majors in the school.
