John Carroll University, with funding from
the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion,
is undertaking a study of:

"The Role of the Religious Studies Introductory Course
in Supporting the Jesuit Mission
in Catholic Higher Education in the 21st Century."

The purpose of the study is to improve religious and theological education at the 28 Jesuit Catholic colleges and universities in the United States by structuring a conversation among the institutions concerning how their current introductory Religious Studies/ Theology courses can better support the Jesuit mission in higher education in the contemporary environment of religious pluralism, technological innovation, and a developing global culture in the 21st century.

The introductory course is fundamental to the religious studies/theology curriculum at any Jesuit institution but, in its present state, it is not always perceived as in line with the Jesuit mission. Over the last several years, Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States have been discussing and re-evaluating their mission. The time is ripe for an analysis of the religious studies/theology introductory course in light of this on-going discussion of the Jesuit mission in higher education, and in light of current pedagogical practice.

The project will involve all of the twenty-eight Jesuit Catholic colleges and universities in the United States. An introductory course that more effectively and more intentionally supports the Jesuit mission would have a tremendous effect upon these institutions. It would affect religious and theological education for over 1,000 students each year at John Carroll University alone, and up to 40,000 more each year at all the U.S. Jesuit institutions combined.

Note to past RL 101 Students: A few weeks ago, a random sample of the past RL 101 students were sent a survey (by US mail) asking their views on the "Introduction to Religious Studies" course. If you received a survey and have not yet completed and returned it, please do so in the near future. If your copy has gotten lost in the shuffle of the new semester, call x3087 or email smcginn (at JCU.edu) and we will be happy to send you another ---or click here for the document in MS Word format. You can return it via campus mail to Dr. McGinn in the Religious Studies Department, or fax it to 216-397-4518. Thank you for your input!

Note to JCU Faculty, Staff, and Administrators: By now, all of you should have received a survey inquiring into your perceptions and aspirations for the RL intro course. It is not necessary to have a response to each question before you return the survey. Even if you think you know nothing about the course as it currently is taught (other than the catalogue description), please complete the parts of the survey that ask your views of how it might be designed to foster the university mission. If you really have no opinion whatsoever, even returning the survey blank--with the signed consent form--makes a difference to the statistical reliability of the survey. If your copy has gotten lost in the shuffle at the beginning of the semester, call 3087 or email smcginn (at JCU.edu) and we will be happy to send another ---or click here for the document in MS Word format.