2024 Mission Priority Examen Self-Study
“An accreditation gathers evidence to demonstrate that the accreditor’s standards have been met. An Examen, by contrast, should be a prayerful and broadly participative process that seeks to identify how the Spirit is moving a community to deeper and more effective engagement with our shared mission in a rapidly changing context.”
- Fr. Arturo Sosa S.J.
Unlike other processes that are interested in compliance or even strategic planning processes, the Mission Priority Examen Self Study is a broadly participatory set of campus conversations.
This process is coordinated by a Self-Study Chair, appointed by the school's President, who oversees its execution and communication. The Chair's duties involve managing a Self-Study Committee, setting up meetings, working with external Peer Visitors for an in-depth review, and maintaining a schedule for all stages of the process, including drafting and finalizing self-study documents. This committee, chosen by the President to represent diverse perspectives within the institution, is tasked with engaging the entire university community in reflecting on and contributing to the Jesuit mission. The MPE process involves several key activities. The Self-Study Committee communicates with students, faculty, and staff through various means to gather insights on how the Jesuit mission is lived out on campus. This includes organizing focus groups, surveys, and interviews to collect a wide range of opinions and experiences. After gathering information, the committee deliberates on setting two to four Jesuit Mission Priorities for the next seven years, based on feedback and the Characteristics of Jesuit Higher Education guide. Additionally, a team of Peer Visitors from other Jesuit institutions visits the campus to review the proposed mission priorities, offering their expertise and perspective. The process concludes with the Self-Study Committee revising their report based on the Peer Visitors' feedback, and discussing the implementation of priorities with the President, ensuring that the school's direction is firmly rooted in its Jesuit values.
So far in our conversations, the following have emerged as areas of inquiry, topics we keep circling back to:
- Interdisciplinarity and public impact teaching, learning, and research
- Holistic student experiences that promote student wellbeing and belonging
- Robust faith life and religious development for students of all faiths
- Student mission formation
- Care of our common home
- Beyond Fordham: the outcomes of a Jesuit education
- Global citizenship
- Financing our mission work