The University of St. Joseph, a Mercy institution, was founded during the Great Depression to provide women a gateway to higher education for careers in fields that would serve the well-being of society. Recently, the institution has undergone changes to modernize its organizational structure. Consistent with its commitment to educate people of…

This article provides a history of the founding and maturation of the Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU). It is the story of a group of lay and ordained student affairs professionals from Catholic colleges and universities who were inspired by the vision of "Gaudium et spes" and "Ex corde…

Universities struggling to recapture their Catholic identity in an increasingly pluralistic campus environment learn from "Idea of a University" that Catholic identity is fostered by two essential elements: a culture of the intellect and a loyal Catholic spirit. Catholics and non-Catholics can build vibrant Catholic campuses by working together to…

This article explores debates about the public role of religion in a secular context. Drawing on the work of critical theorist, Jurgen Habermas, this article claims that the United States requires a viable public sphere in which religious and secular voices can learn from each other. Highlighting the work of the Lane Center for Catholic Studies…

This paper examines the situation surrounding a proposed nickname change for Marquette University. The analysis draws upon current work that explores multiple organizational identities and stakeholder participation in making such a decision. The article focuses on Catholic universities and considers tensions that emerge as the faith mission…

This article engages in a critical dialogue with Melanie N. Morey and John J. Piderit, S.J.'s "Catholic Higher Education: A Culture in Crisis". It proposes a fifth model, the "Catholic Engagment model". It elaborates that model by examining a working paper, "Catholic Identity and the DePaul Student Experience," that has been used in workshops at…

While focusing on the nature and mission of Catholic higher education, "Ex Corde Ecclesiae: The Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities and The Presence of the Church in the University and University Culture" are also interested in the relationship between the mission of the Catholic university and the nature of the student as a person.…