Internal Faculty Network

What will students need to live and work productively in their complex, fast-changing world marked by dangerous inequalities and by dazzling possibilities? What intellectual frames and pedagogies will be most useful for them? What resources does Saint Mary’s currently have to meet such demands? What are some concrete action plans we might construct to help us get where we want to go?

To reflect on these questions, 25 faculty took part in the 2nd Annual Saint Mary’s College Faculty Seminar sponsored by CWIL May 18-20, 2004. “Liberal Education for the 21st Century”. The Seminar was facilitated by Dr. Caryn McTighe Musil of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Dr. Elizabeth Minnich of the Union Institute, and was based on much time listening to faculty, chairs, and strategic plan committees to discern the most useful next steps in faculty development relevant to CWIL’s mission.

There was a small packet of preliminary collaboratively-selected readings to inform discussions, and we began with hearing the voices of some of our students in a panel. After some opening framings by Caryn and Elizabeth, we engaged in a series of large and small group discussions to begin to articulate as individuals, departments, and a college, how our goals for liberal education might be changing, if they are, and how to translate these ideas into sound educational practices.

Next, this group will reconvene for a meal at the beginning of the next two semesters to sustain their work and reflect on progress made in integrating their new ideas into their teaching. We hope this group might function as a kind of creative teaching corps/core and help expand ideas to a wider circle of colleagues over the course of the year. We intend to post syllabi and resource ideas here as this group’s work evolves.

CWIL · 9 Havican Hall · Saint Mary's College · Notre Dame, IN · 46556-5001 · Phone: (574) 284-4051 · Fax: (574) 284-4141 · E-mail:

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