Your browser (Internet Explorer 7 or lower) is out of date. It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites. Learn how to update your browser.

X

From the President:

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President
Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President

Siena Heights: This is Holy Ground

The University’s theme for this academic year is Contemplation and Action. This year’s Common Dialogue Day is entitled, “Get Some Perspective,” which grew out of the Contemplation and Action theme.

I have a little picture in my office with a line from Psalm 46 which says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still, and know, experience, that I am God. This is what I have come to know as contemplation
in my life as a Dominican.

St. Catherine of Siena called it creating your inner cell. Be still, and go to that place within you where God is and speaks Truth to your heart. That truth that flows from contemplation must be shared with our world, and, I believe, that’s when we are compelled to act. Thus, we can see the relationship between contemplation and action.

But what does all of this mean to us as a Dominican higher education institution? We live in a very busy world where we are bombarded with things that distract us. How do we overcome these distractions and spend quiet time to contemplate and reflect on all that goes on around us?

Contemplation can truly influence our perspectives on things. Let me give you an example. The University recently made a statement about those coming across our borders, offering to assist to educate those who may be college-ready, but also challenging our government leaders to act in a responsible, compassionate way.

Read more . . .

From the President:

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President
Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President

The (Adrian) Dominican Tradition is
Alive and Well

It’s been a year to remember at Siena Heights University.

Of course, all eight or so years I have been at Siena Heights have turned out to be memorable in their own way. But this year, there was a special emphasis on strengthening the Dominican tradition on campus.

Last spring, faculty member Sister Pat Walter, OP, delivered an end-of-the-year address to our faculty and staff on our Catholic identity. Her presentation sparked a newfound interest in just what that “identity” was on our campus. In fact, many of our faculty and staff—some of whom are not even Catholic—wanted to know more about this “Catholic, Dominican tradition.”

This spring, we had a series of luncheon discussions exploring aspects of our Catholic identity. These occurred not only on the Adrian campus, but at some of our other campuses around Michigan.

Integrating the Dominican tradition in a more visible way is also happening with many our academic programs, especially in the liberal arts. And our newly designed Leadership program in the Graduate College will have the Dominican tradition as a focus.

Read more . . .

From the President:

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President
Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President

Success Comes in Many Forms

What’s your definition of success? In higher education, it may depend on the person whom you ask.

If you’re asking those in government, then it may be about student outcomes and the educational value that a college or university provides its students. I’m happy to report that over the summer Siena Heights was listed in several surveys that cited SHU as being a good return-on-investment. I certainly count this as a success story and reaffirms what we are doing as an institution. You can read more details about these honors in this issue.

For our students, I’m sure the answers will be all over the board. Many gauge success on what kind of grades they receive in the classroom. Others on the success of their athletic or extracurricular endeavors. Of course, we hope all of our students measure success when they are holding their diplomas in their hands!

For our faculty, staff and administration, their success is directly tied to our students’ success. It is our mission to see our students become more competent, purposeful and ethical during their time at Siena Heights. We want our students to not only become successful in their future jobs and careers—but also in their lives. Our Catholic, Dominican tradition mandates that we prepare our students to be agents of change in the world. We want them to help transform the world for good. And that’s a success story by anyone’s definition.

Read more . . .