Cardinal Stritch University

The series continues with our sixth reflection:

Cardinal Stritch University is a Catholic institution of higher education founded and sponsored by the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Promoting the Franciscan charism is our priority in order to reflect our identity and heritage. The Franciscan values of the university have been reflected in the lives of the Sisters and in the spirit of the corporate ministries they founded. Therefore the values are kept alive and passed on by members of the university community.

In accord with the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, Cardinal Stritch University emphasizes four Franciscan values: Showing Compassion, Reverencing all of Creation, Making Peace, and Creating a Caring Community. The university assists women and men in pursuing lifelong learning. It provides both traditional and non-traditional approaches to meet the educational needs of a diverse student body. The elements of scholarship and learning – discovery, application , integration, and teaching – are embraced by faculty, staff, and students. Responsive to the needs of the community, the graduates are critical thinkers, ethical decision-makers, and life-long learners.

The Franciscan values guide us to create multicultural experiences stressing the diversity among faculty and students. Our students, faculty, and staff participate in numerous service initiatives throughout Wisconsin, including our Service Day during the week of the Feast of St. Francis. Our Student Success Center assists students needing help in fundamental skills and in English language learning. We are among the most culturally diverse student bodies in Wisconsin with 75% of the students in this year’s class being students of color. We offer health and wellness campaigns on campus and through the larger community, reverencing the sanctity of life. Courses in our interdisciplinary core focus on conservation, culture, dialogue, peace, and justice. This year, as we emphasize Showing Compassion, we turn to stories like Francis and the Leper, Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio, and Francis and the Hungry Brother at Rivo Torto to help our community see this value lived out in the life of our patron saint. We support our students in living out the Franciscan values to become responsible persons who serve the local and global community.

Barbara Spies, OFS, Ph.D.
Director of Mission Integration
Professor of Communication

Many thanks to Dr. Spies for this thoughtful reflection! We're about half way through - looking forward to more!