 |
 |
|
||
 E-mail to a friend |
Contact Us
| College Home |
||||
From the President's OfficeDEAR FRIENDS, 
Starting a new year at the College of St. Catherine is always a heart-thumping
adventure. That this is my 10th start is humbling and deeply satisfying. To work
each day in such a beautiful place, and to pursue a noble mission with talented and
generous people, is an amazing gift.This year we will focus our work in three areas: extending the depth of our commitment to academic excellence; deepening faculty engagement in our mission; and an exciting new initiative, the College of St. Catherine School of Health -- the focus of this issue ofSCAN. By unanimous vote in August, the Board of Trustees approved establishment of the College of St. Catherine School of Health after two years of intense work to implement the strategic plan that the Board adopted in October 2005. The decision to establish a School of Health is among the most critical decisions made during my presidency and perhaps the most important initiative I will lead. Not only does this decision call us to new tiers of excellence, but the School of Health expresses, in magnificent synchrony, the coalescence of our mission, signature curricular strengths and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is the right response at the right time to a critical social need.
Our School of Health is grounded in our deep religious values about the dignity of human persons, the core principle of Catholic Social Teaching. Our programs center on learners; they are technology enriched, interdisciplinary, grounded in the liberal arts, and focused on preparing collaborative and complementary healthcare team members. We believe this approach will best prepare health professionals for enlightened modes of practice. We seek partners in the Twin Cities and beyond who share our values and vision. Most exciting is the possibility of developing new partnerships between St. Catherine's and large Catholic healthcare systems in the United States whose missions resonate with ours. The School of Health will take center stage, but this will be a robust year on other fronts as well, including fine speakers and performers in The O'Shaughnessy; determining whether it's time for St. Catherine's to become a university; dedicating our new residence halls; and marking the 70th anniversary of St. Catherine's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. It promises to be a good and busy year. I hope you'll come around often. Please let me know your thoughts, your hopes, your questions and your ideas. They always challenge us to do our best work. Thank you for your many signs of support and good energy. We count on them. Andrea J. Lee, IHM |
|
|||