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Catholic and Franciscan.
The
University of Saint Francis holds fast to the teachings
and faith of the Roman Catholic Church,
the liberal arts tradition, and the virtues of the wisdom
tradition inspired by St. Francis and St. Clare of
Assisi: reverence the unique dignity of each person; encourage a trustful,
prayerful community of learners; serve one another,
society and the Church; foster peace and justice;
respect creation.
The Liberal Arts Tradition.
The Liberal Arts, encompassing the humanities and the
natural and social sciences, convey specific content
knowledge, but they also form a certain discipline of
mind that promotes skilled judgment and intellectual
acuity. They are action-oriented, exciting in students
habits of active engagement, continuous questioning,
probing, exploring, and connecting knowledge across
disciplines. When these thinking skills are combined
with professional education in business, the health
sciences, education, counseling, social work, or the
creative arts, students at the University of Saint
Francis are transformed into intentional learners and
highly competent professionals.
Faith and Reason.
In the words of Pope John Paul II, Faith
and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit
rises to the contemplation of truth.” In the Catholic
and Franciscan traditions, faith is not merely a
supplement or afterthought to reason, still less its
rival. Rather, in these traditions, faith and reason
complement each other because “each contains the other."
Diversity.
Profoundly committed to building a civilization of love
and mutual understanding, the University of Saint
Francis actively promotes an appreciation and
understanding of all religious traditions, cultures, and
individuals; and encourages members of the University
community to explore their faith, ethnic and cultural
traditions in the context of an intellectually robust
and supportive community. Accordingly, diversity at the
University of Saint Francis includes the interests,
experiences and backgrounds of individuals based on, but
not limited to, race, ethnicity, culture, language,
nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender
and disability.
Community. Students,
faculty, staff and administrators, each according to his
or her role and capacity, actively participate in a
community of scholars wherein each member continually
develops his or her professional expertise in service to
others. An ethic of study, continuous quality
improvement, reflection and dialogue is foundational to
the University of Saint Francis as a learning
organization.
Quality.
The University’s commitment to continuous study and
improvement is underscored by its participation in the
Academic Quality Improvement Program of the Higher
Learning Commission, and by the variety of professional
accreditations for its academic programs. Quality at the
University of Saint Francis is a persistent quest for
excellence shaped by the needs of students, professional
and academic standards, and best practices.
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