Saint Martin’s University is a Catholic
Benedictine institution of higher education
that empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment in all arenas of human endeavor. Saint
Journeylearn to Distinction Martin’s students to make a positive
difference in their lives and in the lives of others through the interaction of faith reason, and service. The University honors both the sacredness of the individual and the significance of community in the ongoing journey of becoming. Saint Martin’s University Strategic Plan for 2020
| 1
2 | Journey to Distinction 2 | Journey to Distinction
In 2020, Saint Martin’s University will celebrate its 125th anniversary. As we approach this milestone, we draw strength and inspiration from our 1,500-year-old Benedictine tradition and challenge ourselves to advance Saint Martin’s to higher levels of distinction. “Journey to Distinction” represents the collective efforts of the Saint Martin’s community. This student-centered plan will guide the work of our University through the next five years and provide us with direction as we inspire current and future generations of students to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, achieve academic excellence, and deepen their compassion for others.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent, four-year, coeducational university located on more than 300 wooded acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, Saint Martin’s prepares students for successful lives through its undergraduate and graduate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education, social work and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,100 undergraduate students and 340 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and 350 more students to its extended campuses at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Centralia College and Tacoma Community College. | 3
Our Mission Saint Martin’s University is a Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education that empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment in all arenas of human endeavor. Saint Martin’s students learn to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others through the interaction of faith, reason, and service. The University honors both the sacredness of the individual and the significance of community in the ongoing journey of becoming.
4 | Journey to Distinction
FAITH Faith is the commitment we have to the exploration of our beliefs. We acknowledge the fundamental necessity of the human confrontation with faith in all its aspects — religious, interpersonal, political, social, in all the commitments required in a life — as a critical element in the pursuit of truth.
REASON Reason means going beyond the mere production of useful-skilled and employable graduates. It aims at producing thoughtful, educated, independent thinkers capable of, and interested in, making a positive difference in the world they inhabit.
SERVICE Service expresses essential elements of the Benedictine philosophy of hospitality. Saint Martin’s nurtures the impulse to serve and aims to graduate men and women distinguished by their thoughtful commitment to help meet the needs of others.
COMMUNITY Community, a distinctive hallmark of the Benedictine philosophy, is the self-conscious regard for people’s mutual inter-dependence and the way we demonstrate respect for all the roles in the human community.
| 5
Our Vision We strive for holistic development, collaborative exchange and an integrated approach to teaching and learning as an exemplary Catholic, Benedictine university.
6 | Journey to Distinction
| 7
The
Saint Martin’s Promise Saint Martin’s University exists for the sake of our students, and student-centeredness is the heart of this plan. Inspired by our vision to be an exemplary Catholic, Benedictine university, we have identified the following imperatives that collectively form the Saint Martin’s Promise, a pledge between the University and our students that makes explicit our commitment to their intellectual, personal and spiritual development and a pledge by faculty and staff to support one another in the work of our mission. To become an exemplary Catholic, Benedictine university, we must:
8 | Journey to Distinction
Forge a distinctive Catholic, Benedictine experience
Through reflection, conversation and action we will actively realize our Catholic, Benedictine character, which unites faith and reason, service and community. Guided by this imperative, we will forge a common experience inside and outside the classroom that embodies the values we embrace and is intentionally transformative.
Enhance academic excellence
Together, we will build academic programs that address the needs of today and tomorrow. We will support faculty scholarship and research by faculty and students. We will integrate the academic curriculum with co-curricular programs to promote experiential learning and integrate liberal learning with professional education and preparation.
Cultivate an engaged diverse, global and inclusive community By learning how to live together, people become more fully themselves. We will create opportunities to share who we are and what we offer to a wider public; broaden our perspectives and impact; and foster local, global and intercultural exchange.
| 9
Objectives Saint Martin’s students, supported and nurtured by faculty and staff, will develop, demonstrate and cultivate. . . Communication skills • Critical thinking skills • Global and intercultural competencies • Leadership skills • Lifelong learning • Social responsibility and civic engagement To enable our students’ goals, Saint Martin’s University will. . . • Institute, embrace and model the above shared learning outcomes • Commit to the success of our students, faculty and staff • Develop integrated academic and co-curricular programs • Encourage intercultural engagement • Foster diversity in our community • Identify and sustain collaborative partnerships and relationships • Prepare students for professional and personal success in the immediate and long term As we move forward on this “Journey to Distinction,” we will share accomplishments and discoveries. Together, with this plan as our guide, Saint Martin’s will continue to develop leaders who inspire and transform others through their creative and mindful work, compelling voice and passion.
10 | Journey to Distinction
| 11
“ We embark on this journey, united and inspired by our students.” – Chancellor Abbot Neal Roth, O.S.B., ’65
www.stmartin.edu/Journey 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, Washington 2/16
12 | Journey to Distinction