For Immediate Release: 5/31/2006
St. Jerome's University, federated with the University of Waterloo, has been selected to participate in the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) Institutional Leadership Program. The program recognizes "institutions with demonstrated commitment to and capacity for action, inquiry and leadership in the scholarship of teaching and learning."
St. Jerome's selection in the program is based on its longstanding commitment to liberal arts education and its current plans for innovation and enhancement in the delivery of its education. Vice-President and Academic Dean, Myroslaw Tataryn, points to some specific elements in the University's educational plan as key to its recognition by CASTL. "This coming fall, St. Jerome's will launch a new mentoring program for first-year students, designed to help them with the transition to university," says Tataryn. "The concept of this program builds on the learning community which has long been at the heart of the St. Jerome's student experience." Tataryn notes that the University plans to expand the program to include all aspects of the student experience and the establishment of educational benchmarks that chart a student's progression throughout their degree.
St. Jerome's is also completing its inaugural year in the Intercordia program, a unique service learning opportunity that allows students to spend three months in a developing country following a year of study and preparation. Twelve St. Jerome's students are currently in the midst of their three-month placements in countries around the world. Tataryn cites Intercordia as another innovative learning opportunity recognized by the CASTL designation. "Intercordia allows us to provide students with an international experience so that they can see their place in the broader community, and it provides an educational experience outside of the classroom, which addresses our mission of educating the whole person. These initiatives are all part of our effort to continue our tradition of superior undergraduate education," he says.
St. Jerome's President Michael Higgins welcomes the recognition and the opportunities provided by the CASTL Institutional Leadership Program. "At a time when the challenges facing higher education are becoming more prevalent and more complex, it is vital to find occasions for dialogue and creative exploration. Our involvement in the CASTL program provides us with opportunities for collaboration with other institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to this type of inquiry, and it recognizes St. Jerome's as an institution with something vital to offer on this front. We are delighted to be included in this exciting endeavour."
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 with the aim of upholding and advancing the cause of higher education. Today, it is a North American leader in educational research, program development and policy initiatives. St. Jerome's joins nine other North American institutions of higher learning for a three-year program of collaboration and inquiry focused on the improvement of student learning and the promotion of institutional change in the support of teaching and learning.
St. Jerome's University was established by the Congregation of the Resurrection in 1865 and became federated with the University of Waterloo in 1960. It offers programs in liberal arts and mathematics.
