Universidad en transformación

Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, PA, not far from Altoona. About 2,600 students are enrolled there; 1,800 are under- graduates. It is one of the oldest Catholic colleges in America, and it

is the oldest Franciscan university in the country. The modest, ser- vice-oriented piety of the Saint for whom the university is named is a recurrent theme in its written, electronic, and personal com- munications. It is unusual to spend a half-hour speaking to some- one from Saint Francis or reading any of their publications with- out encountering the story of Saint Francis meeting the leper and seeing in his countenance the face of Jesus. These Franciscan values are evident in the university’s statement of its mission and in the shape of the education offered there, especially in the honors pro- gram. Professor Dan Fredricks, who teaches in the honors first-year course reflects: “I believe that students in our honors program are subtly but inescapably encouraged to remain open to the experi- ences that will come in the still, quiet, reflective, and even passive moments” (Fredricks). Saint Francis University’s mission statement certainly emphasizes a higher-education experience aimed at the whole student, not just at developing her or his intellectual skills:

A Mind for Excellence: Saint Francis University offers higher education in an environment guided by Catholic values and teachings, and inspired by the example of our patron, Saint Francis of Assisi.

A Spirit for Peace and Justice: University programs and activities foster such Franciscan values as a humble and generous attitude toward learning, respect for diversity and the uniqueness of individual persons, understanding of ethical issues, and reverence for all life.

A Heart for Service: We seek to inspire in all members of the University community a love of lifelong learning and a commitment to share their gifts and skills generously with others in a rapidly changing world. (Saint Francis Univer- sity Statement)

According to Dr. Donna Menis, Director of the Saint Francis University Honors Program, “Our honors program provided a bit of the impetus for the now university-wide focus on spiritual well- ness” (Menis). In 1984, when the honors program was inaugurated,

it created a “semester of service” requirement for all its students, which was the beginning of formal service within the curriculum of Saint Francis (Menis). The service requirement was adopted ten years later in the all-college general education program, at which point the honors program incorporated service into its sophomore seminars. Currently students living at the Bach Family Honors House complete a group service project each year.

In an impressive and creative step, the Saint Francis Honors Program has each honors professor list the ethical dimensions of each particular course on the class syllabus. One faculty member notes “the kind of questions and discussions that students encoun- ter in the honors classroom help them develop a sense of social and political awareness” (qtd. in Menis).

The university as a whole recently undertook a revision of its core curricular requirements. According to Dr. Don Walkovich, Associate Dean of Saint Francis University, the revised core has 14 Objectives and number 14 deals with “wellness” (Walkovich):

Objective 14: Develop an understanding of key elements of personal health and wellness, major health care issues, and the well-being of communities. (Saint Francis University Goals)

It is noteworthy that this general education objective pertains both to physical fitness and to spiritual well-being. Saint Francis estab- lished a Wellness Task Force that articulated seven “dimensions of wellness,” displayed below. That these dimensions of mental, physi- cal, and spiritual wellness are carefully linked to the University’s overarching statement of the “goals of Franciscan higher education” is impressive.

Operational Definitions

Wellness is an evolving, multi-dimensional state of being in

which mind, body, and spirit are purposefully integrated in an active process designed to help individuals and communities become more aware of and make choices toward an optimal quality of life.

Dimensions of Wellness

Mind

Psychological Wellness is the process of recognizing that

each individual person is a unique combination of God- given abilities. The individual is called to develop the skill to identify, assess and manage emotions and behav- iors, while maintaining a balance between self-reliance and seeking help from others. Psychological wellness includes being motivated to engage in creative pursuits and effective problem solving, ultimately encouraging growth in oneself and others.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• Respect for the Uniqueness of Individual Persons • A Spirit of Simplicity and Joy

Financial Wellness is the process of developing stew-

ardship over one’s personal finances where income and expenditures are managed through a budget providing for self-sufficiency, peace of mind, and compassion to those in need, especially the poor and disenfranchised.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• Service to the Poor and Needy • A Franciscan Presence

Body

Physical Wellness is the process of making healthy choices

related to exercise, nutrition, rest and sleep, intentional and responsible sexual choices, stress management, management of injury and illness, and the responsible use of alcohol and other drugs.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• Respect for the Uniqueness of Individual Persons • Reverence for All Life

Environmental Wellness is the process of appreciating

our natural surroundingsand understanding the role of individuals and groups in sustaining and protecting our environment. Our Franciscan heritage calls us to make responsible choices regarding the use of resources such as air, water, land and energy, which contribute to our wellness and the preservation of Mother Earth for future generations.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• Reverence for All Life and for the Goodness of All Humanity

• A Global Vision

Occupational Wellness is the process of making a positive

contribution to the workplace and striving for personal fulfillment from a career while maintaining balance in our lives. A commitment to lifelong learning gives us a sense of direction, goals, and skills to effectively collabo- rate with co-workers and those we serve.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• A Global Vision

• A Humble and Generous Attitude Toward Learning Spirit

Spiritual Wellness is the process of discovering meaning

and purpose in life, and demonstrating values through behaviors. Spiritual wellness includes acceptance of the concepts of wholeness, unity, diversity, individual uniqueness, and the need for community as well as per- sonal responsibility to oneself and that community.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• A Community of Faith and Prayer • A Franciscan Presence

Social Wellness is the process of creating, embracing, and

maintaining healthy relationships through the choices we make at home, at work and in our communities. We are called to compassionately serve others, especially the poor and disenfranchised, and to empower future gen- erations to peacefully work together in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.

Relationship to the Franciscan Goals of Higher Education

• A Spirit of Simplicity and Joy

• A Humble and Generous Attitude Toward Learning (Saint Francis University Goals)

To meet these ambitious wellness goals, the university devised four core wellness courses. These courses are sequential, moving from the individual student out into the larger issues of global well- being. The syllabus of each of these courses reiterates the overall wellness policies and aspirations of Saint Francis University, then details how that specific course will fulfill particular goals, mis- sions, and objectives.

In addition to the curricular effort to integrate mental, physical, and spiritual wellness, Saint Francis University maintains a vigor- ous program of service to its surrounding community, which pro- vides numerous opportunities for service and volunteerism for its students. These programs are centered in the Dorothy Day Center, named for twentieth-century progressive activist Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker movement and the newspaper of the same name.

Indeed, Saint Francis University’s program of student volun- teerism is sufficiently energetic that the responsible administra- tor, Fr. Daniel Sinisi, Vice President for Mission Effectiveness and

Integration, issued a 17-page “Service Leadership Report,” cover- ing the 2009–10 period and cataloging a dramatic range of ser- vice projects undertaken by the students (Sinisi). Here are several examples: the students in the honors program collected books to be sent to areas of the world that need them; the athletics department sponsored a “Sports 4 Kids” day for local youngsters; and students maintain a clothing pantry for families in need.

One recent addition to the campus is a rather unusual enter- prise named the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness; it opened early in 2010. This institute integrates a number of dispa- rate health services under one roof, and its Executive Director is the Dean of the School of Health Sciences (DiSepio).

• The DiSepio Institute is linked to a continuing program of research in rural health issues, that the University has oper- ated under the rubric of CERMUSA, an acronym for Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas. • The Institute houses a complete rehabilitation center, serving

the region, including physical therapy and cardiac rehabilita- tion programs.

• It is also the home of the campus fitness center, with a 3,500-square-foot gym and a 1,000-square-foot group exer- cise room. This facility serves students, faculty, and staff of the university, but is also open to community membership. • The facility includes a conference center.

• The mission of the Institute also includes spiritual wellness, so the facility includes an outdoor meditation garden and labyrinth and an indoor ecumenical meditation center. The Institute intends to undertake programming in the “theol- ogy of wellness.”

• Two travel study scholarships to undertake clinical work in foreign countries are funded by the Institute every year, ben- efiting students in the health sciences areas.

• Health and wellness programs for students, employees, and the community are sponsored by the Institute.

• There are two residencies in the area of Physical Therapy, one in Orthopedic Therapy, one in Sports Therapy.

• This facility is the home of the University Student Health Service.

• Finally, the DiSepio Institute sponsors a symposium series, for example a recent symposium focusing on Current Con- cepts in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion Examina- tion and management. (DiSepio)

Saint Francis University may be relatively small and it may advocate the humble modesty of its namesake, but its range of programs knitting together the intellectual, spiritual, and physical lives of its students, faculty, staff, and community is substantial and ambitious.