Centers, Institutes, and Programs

CENTERS
The Cardinal Suenens Center
The Cardinal Suenens Center honors the life and work of Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens (1904-1996), Archbishop of Maniles-Brussels and Primate of Belgium.  The Center has the following goals:  to study the achievements and heritage of Vatican Council II; to be attentive especially to the reception of the as yet unachieved goals of the council; and, through symposia, publications, and funded scholarly research, to increase understanding and pursuit of those goals; to further the ecumenical advances of the council through respectful dialogue; to bridge conversation between church leadership and the theological community; and to intersect the pastoral goals of Vatican Council II with those of the culture in response to the Church’s present call for “the evangelization of the culture.”  Given the council’s recommendation that we be attentive to “the signs of the times,” the Center is actively involved in pursuing interfaith dialogue.  Every other year, the Cardinal Suenens Center designates a recipient for the Living Water Award.  Past honorees:  1996—Mother Teresa and Cardinal Joseph Bernardin; 1998—Cardinal Godfried Danneels; 2000—Cardinal Franz Koenig; 2002—Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J., 2005—Helen Prejean, C.S.J., 2006—Giuseppe Alberigo.  Each year an invitation is extended to a prominent person to deliver the Margaret F. Grace lecture on “Where do I find hope?”  The distinguished list includes:  Godfried Cardinal Danneels; Reverend Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I.; Sister Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J.; Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J.; Reverend Richard Rohr, O.F.M.; Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, M.Afr.; and William Cardinal Leveda.  Director:  Dr. Doris Donnelly, Department of Religious Studies.

The Center for Community Service
The Center for Community Service, founded in 1992, reflects the mission and commitment of John Carroll University to the formation of men and women in the ideals of the Jesuits.  The center seeks to educate for justice by offering the John Carroll community opportunities for learning through service.  The center offers multiple opportunities for community-based learning, including service learning, service-based immersion programs, voluntary service opportunities for individuals and groups, and justice education activities. 
The center also provides faculty development opportunities to support faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Boler School of Business who choose to infuse justice education and service into their courses and immersion programs. Interim Director:  Dr. Margaret Finucane, Department of Communication and Theatre Arts.

The Center for Global Education
The Center for Global Education exists to foster a vibrant international campus culture and support university efforts towards a coherent program of international education for all John Carroll students.  To this end, the center works closely with the university’s area studies and other international studies programs to develop and enhance international curricular and co-curricular offerings across the university.  The center strives to expand opportunities for study abroad and international exchange; advises and works with international students and scholars; convenes student workshops on international awards and fellowships; and supports the Fulbright visiting lecturer series and other international-related events and programs.  Director:  Dr. Andreas Sobisch, Department of Political Science.

The Center for Mathematics and Science Education, Teaching and Technology (CMSETT)
The Center for Mathematics and Science Education, Teaching and Technology (CMSETT) was established at John Carroll University in 1999 with the mission to advance the quality of K-12 mathematics and science education in northeastern Ohio.  This is accomplished through building upon successful initiatives of the university to improve mathematics and science instruction in local school districts and through collaboration with faculty and representatives of K-12 institutions, other higher education institutions, and other organizations in the region.
CMSETT provides professional development programs and workshops for mathematics and science educators based on the national vision for reform in science, mathematics, and technology education.  The purpose of these programs is to improve content knowledge in the areas of science and mathematics and appropriate teaching strategies based on current research on human learning and effective practices.  Courses may be taken for graduate credit.
A variety of professional development opportunities is offered to area mathematics and science teachers of grades K-12 each summer.  In addition, specific programs are designed with individual districts to meet their needs for ongoing program improvement.  Director:  Linda Gojak; Associate Director:  Pamela B. Keiper.

The Center for Social Ministry Partnerships
Begun in January 2005, the Center for Social Ministry Partnerships is a collaboration between the Catholic Charities Health and Human Services Secretariat (CCHHS) of the Cleveland Diocese and John Carroll University.  Its purpose is to institutionalize the long-standing cooperation and joint programming between the two entities and catalyze new initiatives for the common good.  An advisory council was established for the center at the time of its formation.
Through the center, John Carroll University has hosted and participated in the Blazing Trails Symposium put on annually by The Caritas Connection, a partnership between CCHHS and the Sisters of Charity Health System.  An Executive Leadership Certificate Program has been conducted twice for CCHHS administrators and managers by the Boler School of Business and Continuing Education.  CCHHS participates in the new John Carroll University Program on Poverty Studies and in the advisory committee for the new master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration.  John Carroll is also involved in the new Public Policy Leadership Council started by CCHHS and the Sisters of Charity Health System.
The Center for Social Ministry Partnerships has an office in SC 149 of the Bohannon Center and can be reached at 216-397-4426. Director: Leonard M. Calabrese, Executive Director, Commission on Catholic Community Action (CCHHS).

The Center for Teaching and Learning
The Center for Teaching and Learning supports the university’s mission by providing a facility and resources to foster an environment that encourages faculty to improve their teaching effectiveness.  The center offers opportunities for reading, reflection, skill development, individual and group dialogue with peers and students, and learning new technologies.  It plays an active role in providing leadership, coordination, and support for teaching in the belief that good teachers change lives. 

The Faculty Technology Innovation Center
The Faculty Technology Innovation Center (FTIC) is a unit within Information Services dedicated to the support and advancement of technology-enhanced teaching, learning, and research at John Carroll University.  Equipped with the latest hardware and software resources, the FTIC strives to meet its objectives through a combination of faculty research and multimedia development assistance, workshops, and application support.  Students interested in working in the center as multimedia developers or programmers are encouraged to check the FTIC website for available positions at www.jcu.edu/ftic. Director:  Dr. Jay Tarby.

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