Signs of Hope: UIW Weaves CST across the Curriculum

Following the publication of the Catholic bishops' document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) decided to take action: it engaged in a study of all course syllabi to find whether Catholic Social Teaching was being integrated into university courses. The results of the study were disheartening: very few courses mentioned Catholic Social Teaching in their syllabi.¹ In response, the University developed a plan to weave CST into the university curriculum. Dr. Denise Doyle, the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, describes the goal of UIW's initiative as "integrating CST into the university curriculum where appropriate and authentic."

The first phase of the three-year plan was set into action starting in January 2006:

• First, all faculty were invited to listen to a speaker on Catholic Social Teaching and the integration of CST into their classroom syllabi.
• A workshop was offered to provide practical assistance in helping a group of faculty volunteers to work on their own syllabi.
• During the summer of 2006, the faculty group attended a week-long workshop where they worked on their syllabi with the help of an expert.
• In the fall of 2006, the faculty initiated their new syllabi in their classrooms.
• At the end of the semester, faculty met to evaluate their efforts and class response.

Faculty who had found their participation in the cycle helpful spoke about their experience at a gathering of faculty members in January 2007, to begin the second phase of the plan with a new group of professors. The success of this initiative prompted Dr. Doyle to declare: "In five years, we want to replace ourselves with a new generation of faculty and administrators who feel comfortable with Catholic Social Teaching. Our goal is not 'these three people do social justice,' but rather to have a larger body of people who understand the body of thought."

Dr. Doyle has offered to answer any questions other schools might have about implementing a similar initiative and can be contacted at 210-829-2712 or ddoyle@uiwtx.edu.

¹ Robert Connelly and Denise Doyle published an article about the study and its results: "Social Justice at the University of The Incarnate Word: Seeking Evidence in Support of Mission Effectiveness," Current Issues in Catholic Higher Education, ACCU, vol. 24, no. 2 (Fall 2005), pp. 127-146.