Mission Priority Examen
During 2019 Loyola University Maryland participated in a Mission Priority Examen at the request of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus and with the support of the Jesuit Provincials in the United States and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
The Examen offered the Loyola community an opportunity to engage in institutional reflection on the mission and to commit to a set of priorities for faithfully and creatively promoting our Catholic, Jesuit identity and values in the years to come.
A self-study has been created through the Examen. Using the document Some Characteristics of Jesuit Colleges and Universities: A Self-Evaluation Instrument, Loyola worked to identify strengths and weaknesses with respect to mission effectiveness, to examine and evaluate our mission goals, and to establish two or three concrete priorities for mission enhancement during the coming 5-10 years. To create the self-study, the Steering Committee sought input from a variety of constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, trustees, and religious communities.
Download the Self-Study Provide Feedback
The Process
A Steering Committee chaired by Rob Kelly, Ph.D., vice president and special assistant to the president and Amanda Thomas, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, and made up of faculty, administrator, and staff representatives from across the University was charged with guiding Loyola community through the Examen. The institutional Examen moves through several stages, outlined below:
- School commits to Examen during a given year.
- National Coordinating Committee sends school documents describing the process, offers conference call/meeting to answer questions.
- School and Province Higher Ed Assistant select peer visitors.
- School submits one-page timetable/local approach for their Examen.
- School gathers opinions, identifies recent Jesuit Mission Priorities and decides which, if any, to change, and writes a summative report.
- Peer Committee visits and sends draft report back to give school opportunity to correct factual errors, express objections, and amend priorities in light of draft Peer Report.
- Provincial sends his advice, with final Peer Visit Report, to Fr. General. Jesuit Conference President sends his advice to Fr. General.
- Fr. General sends a letter to Provincial, who communicates content to school, other local constituencies including bishop, AJCU President, and National Coordinating Committee.
- In light of Fr. General’s response, school works to implement its mission priorities.
The Peer Review
A Visiting Team of experts from other Jesuit colleges and universities will visit Loyola Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2019, to interview members of the community and engage dialogue about the insights gleaned through the self-study and the mission priorities established by the University. The Visiting Team is responsible for compiling a report that assesses Loyola’s priorities, offers suggestions for new or additional priorities, and affirms Loyola’s commitment to its Jesuit identity and to the leadership of the Society of Jesus.
Download the Peer Visit Report
Steering Committee
Co-chairs
- Robert Kelly, Ph.D., Vice President and Special Assistant to the President
- Amanda Thomas, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Members
- Seán Bray, Director of Campus Ministry
- Fr. Tim Brown, S.J., Assistant to the President for Mission Integration & Associate Professor of Law and Social Responsibility
- Rita Buettner, Director of University Communications
- Michelle Cheatem, Associate Vice President for Student Development
- Joan Flynn, Associate Vice President for External Affairs
- Tracey Frey, Program Director for Academic Assessment and Effectiveness
- Rachel Grover, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
- Charles Hiebler, Associate Director for Alumni Engagement
- Jonathan Malis, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts & Photography
- Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Diversity
- Erin O’Keefe, Director of the Center for Community, Service, and Justice and the York Road Initiative
- Fr. John Savard, S.J., Rector of the Jesuit Community & Lecturer, School of Education
- Helen Schneider, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Campus Services
- Fr. Steven Spahn, S.J., Assistant to the Director of Mission Integration & Affiliate Faculty of Theology
- Joseph Stewart-Sicking, Ed.D., Associate Professor, School of Education