Trustees Ensuring Catholic Mission and Identity

Dr. Thomas Longin Association of Governing Boards Most Rev. Joseph McFadden Bishop of Harrisburg Dr. Rosalie Mirenda President, Neumann University

STRATEGIC BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES THE PRESIDENT

Board Responsibilities Mission/Vision/Planning Review, Approve, Support College’s Mission –Who are we? What do we believe? –Whom do we serve? –What programs and services do we offer? –In what form and where do we offer them? –How do we know our service is effective? Endorse Vision Statement Insist on Institutional Planning –Assess the Plan –Implement the Plan … Support & Monitor

Trustees: Fiduciary Responsibility There may be confusion in Rome – and here – about who really is “in charge” and who should be on certain matters, but there is no confusion in American civil law; ultimately it is the governing board. Richard T. Ingram, “The Challenges of Mission and Identity,“ Mission and Identity: A Handbook for Trustees of Catholic Colleges and Universities, 16

Trustees and Ex corde Ecclesiae Trustee Responsibilities: Be committed to the strategic implications of the college’s Catholic identity as set forth in its mission statement Be Catholics committed to the Church …to the extent possible Develop effective ways of relating to and collaborating with the local bishop on matters of mutual concern Be knowledgeable about ecclesiastical documents on higher education and consider ways of implementing their principles Periodically undertake an internal review of the alignment of the college’s mission statement, courses of instruction, research program, and service activity (The Application of Ex corde Ecclesiae for the U.S., Part II, Art. 4)

CATHOLIC IDENTITY Church’s Vision Culture Trustees Gospel Values President Faith & Reason

“... that Catholic Universities may more and more be places where, in the light of the Gospel, it is possible to experience the harmonious unity existing between faith and reason.” Pope Benedict XVI, 2010

OPEN DISCUSSION

THANK YOU!