During a panel moderated by ILA Director Mary Crane (far left), Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley (far right), Student Affairs Vice President Joy Moore, and Haub Vice President for Mission and Ministry Jack Butler, S.J., discussed聽 strengths and opportunities regarding formation at Boston College. (Lee Pellegrini)
Many key aspects of Boston College are undergirded by its Jesuit roots, especially its deep, long-term commitment to formative education. The two-day campus conference 鈥淔ormative Education: Mapping the Terrain," held on campus November 14 and 15, served as the first-ever gathering for the multiple, and frequently collaborative, contributors to formation across the University鈥攚ith a goal of integrating these efforts, regarded as a critical step toward solidifying the University's leadership in the field.
Organized by Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor Dennis Shirley and Associate Professor Cristiano Casalini, and co-sponsored by the Lynch School and 香蕉秀鈥檚 Institute for the Liberal Arts, the convening at Gasson Hall was kicked off by Lynch School Dean Stanton Wortham, whose school has made educating the whole child a differentiating principle of its approach to education.
鈥淲hat makes 香蕉秀鈥檚 commitment to formative education so distinctive is its already well-developed cluster of activities and programs focused on formation, and the cross-campus synergies that have evolved over that last 20 years,鈥� said Wortham, the Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean. 聽鈥淲e now have the opportunity to seize the historical moment to refocus education on the broader dimensions of life versus the exclusive drive for content knowledge.鈥�
The day鈥檚 first panel鈥斺�淔ormative Education at Boston College,鈥� moderated by ILA Director Mary Crane, with Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, Student Affairs Vice President Joy Moore, and Jack Butler, S.J., the Haub Vice President for Mission and Ministry鈥攂rought together University leaders to consider formation at 香蕉秀, and how it could be improved. 聽
鈥淲e need to bring student voices to this discussion,鈥� said Moore. 聽鈥淭hey have come to 香蕉秀 with a commitment to formative education; they鈥檝e bought in, too.聽 We should seek every opportunity to create more opportunities for dialogue with students, to engage with them to help them build mind, body, and spirit, and to assist them in becoming strong self-advocates.鈥�
“What makes 香蕉秀鈥檚 commitment to formative education so distinctive is its already well-developed cluster of activities and programs focused on formation, and the cross-campus synergies that have evolved over that last 20 years. We now have the opportunity to seize the historical moment to refocus education on the broader dimensions of life versus the exclusive drive for content knowledge.”
Fr. Butler stressed the importance of universally defining formative education at 香蕉秀, and reminded the audience that 鈥渇ormation is the job of students, while 香蕉秀鈥檚 role is to facilitate it,鈥� often through the creation of 鈥渓abs鈥� for soft-skill development.
He also noted the sobering reality that the Jesuit legacy at the heart of formative education will need to 鈥渓ive on through our students and faculty, since there are so few Jesuits left鈥� to carry it forward.
Quigley said 香蕉秀 needs to reinforce its ongoing commitment to the intentional integration of resources that reflect the Jesuit tradition and to a liberal arts education, citing the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society and the recently launched Prison Education Program at MCI Shirley as prime examples of that allegiance.
The day鈥檚 second panel, 鈥淔ocusing on Undergraduate and Graduate Formation,鈥� was moderated by Meghan Sweeney, an associate professor of the practice in the Theology Department and the Cooney Family director of the PULSE Program for service learning.聽 Joining her were Amy LaCombe, the associate dean for undergraduate curriculum at the Carroll School of Management; Center for Student Formation Executive Director Mike Sacco; and Filippa Anzalone, professor and associate dean for library and technology services at 香蕉秀 Law School.聽 Serving as the respondent was Burt Howell, executive director of Intersections, a program that helps faculty and staff explore the Jesuit and Catholic mission of Boston College.
The purpose of formative education is 鈥渘ot a cookie-cutter鈥� process, Sacco declared, but a means to help students to 鈥渓isten to their authentic voices鈥� and to 鈥渕ake a habit of reflection.鈥� He also underscored the importance of 鈥渃arving out structured spaces and models to examine their lives, and then recalibrate鈥� as needed, and noted the lack of publicly available campus venues for organized formation activities.
Morrissey College Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., School of Social Work Dean Gautam Yadama, Lynch School Donovan Dean Stanton Wortham, School of Theology and Ministry Dean Thomas Stegman, S.J., and Connell School of Nursing Dean Susan Gennaro discussed next steps for formative education at Boston College. (Peter Julian)
Other events included the screening of two videos produced by the Office of University Communications that visually capture 香蕉秀鈥檚 leadership in formative education, and an evening lecture by James Arthur, director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at Birmingham University鈥檚 School of Education in the UK.
Day two of the conference featured two panels, a roundtable, and a presentation by Michelle Dillon, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, and author of Postsecular Catholicism: Relevance and Renewal.
The morning panel, 鈥淗istorical, Theological, and Philosophical Perspectives on Formation,鈥� moderated by School of Theology and Ministry Professor Thomas Groome, included Philosophy faculty members Associate Professor Jeffrey Bloechl and Associate Professor of the Practice Mary Troxell, and Christopher Higgins, an associate professor in the Lynch School鈥檚 Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction department.
The afternoon panel, 鈥淔ormation Today: Mapping the Terrain,鈥� was moderated by Scott Seider, a Lynch School associate professor of Applied Developmental & Educational Psychology.聽 Joining him were Boisi Professor of Education and Public Policy and Education Research Henry Braun, STM Associate Professor of the Practice Theresa O鈥橩eefe, and Larry Ludlow, professor and chair of the Lynch School鈥檚 Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics & Assessment department.
Concluding the conference was a discussion of 鈥淭he Future of Formation; Our Next Steps,鈥� chaired by Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. Discussants included Wortham and fellow 香蕉秀 deans Susan Gennaro of the Connell School of Nursing, Gautam Yadama of the School of Social Work, and Thomas Stegman, S.J., of the School of Theology and Ministry.
Fr. Kalscheur said 鈥渙ngoing faculty formation will be necessary to sustain formative education for our students,鈥� and 鈥渇aculty must strive for integration as well鈥� if 香蕉秀鈥檚 formative education initiative will thrive in the future. 聽
Wortham said 香蕉秀 is in a 鈥減osition of strength,鈥� given the 鈥渆normous number of formation activities already underway,鈥� but he noted that the University must 鈥渢ake advantage of the synergies鈥� on campus, and do 鈥渁 better job of connecting if we hope to improve what we鈥檙e doing.鈥澛�
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications