Cultivating a Culture of Ignatian Pedagogy Among Faculty at Jesuit Universities

Jesuit universities provide a means of preparing students to advocate for social justice and the common good through an educational method known as Ignatian pedagogy. Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Ignatian pedagogy is a teaching practice rich in content imbued with Jesuit values. It is meant to be a transformational experience where students learn how to be more intentional in their thoughts and actions, understand the significance of what has been learned, and discern the right course of action as they progress on their path to leadership. Traditionally, Jesuits led students through the practice of Ignatian pedagogy, However, the number of Jesuits has declined over the last few decades, making it necessary for Jesuit institutions to rely on lay faculty and staff to carry forward their educational mission and Ignatian teaching practices. The purpose of this research was to explore the ways Jesuit universities provide faculty with a fundamental understanding of the mission of Jesuit education and cultivate a culture of Ignatian pedagogy. My research approach was a qualitative multi-case study; data was coded and categorized to form themes from which assertions were made. The aim of my study was to summarize best practices that further the ongoing development of faculty in Ignatian teaching practices and to propose recommendations that would deepen each university’s commitment to achieving the Jesuit educational mission. Keywords: Ignatian pedagogy, common good, Spiritual Exercises, case study, bounded system, hiring for mission, professional development

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Mencuccini, Michele C.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ford, Debra J.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/129848

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/129848