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BELMONT — Catholic colleges and universities increasingly face the challenge of serving diverse populations in which many students may not identify with a particular religion, leaders of these institutions said Friday during a conference at Notre Dame de Namur University.
"I see most of our students who come from a Catholic background frankly coming to us with little-to-no basic literacy in the Catholic tradition," said Jacqueline Powers Doud, president of Mount St. Mary's College. "This has become a real challenge. Nonetheless, our students have chosen Mount St. Mary's and come with open minds."
Doud and her colleagues from across the state joined in a panel discussion at Ralston Hall on "The Future of Catholic Higher Education." The discussion was part of inauguration ceremonies honoring NDNU's 18th president, Judith Maxwell Greig.
Greig was named president earlier in the year. She had served as acting president since John "Jack" Oblak resigned in December 2007.
The panel explored what it means to be a Catholic college or university at a time when many of these institutions have found that a minority of their students practice the faith. Many of today's students don't affiliate themselves with a religion but rather see themselves as being on a spiritual journey, said Michael Brophy, president of Marymount College.
Catholic institutions "need to take a global perspective," said Brother Ronald Gallagher, president of St.
Notre Dame and other schools are trying to do that through social-justice efforts and service-learning programs, the leaders said.
"I know NDNU still sees itself and wants to see itself as having a Catholic mission, so that mission needs to be strengthened and better understood," Greig said.
One way to bolster that mission is to "continue to talk about how to pass that apostolic work of the sisters on to the laity who now staff NDNU," she said.
Neil Gonzales covers education. Reach him at 650-348-4338.
