Feb. 8, 2012
Two administrators from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) recently met with some of their counterparts at The Catholic University of America to exchange ideas.
ACU's Rev. Anthony Casamento, chaplain and director of identity and mission, and Anne Cummins, deputy vice chancellor of students, learning and teaching, were greeted on campus on the morning of Jan. 25 by CUA's Rev. Jude DeAngelo, O.F.M. Conv., chaplain and director of campus ministry, and Susan Pervi, vice president for student life.
In the fall of 2011, Father Casamento and Cummins reached out to Father Jude and Pervi about the possibility of a visit to campus.
The two universities already share a connection: a nursing exchange. For the past two years, CUA nursing undergraduates have gone to Melbourne, Australia, to study at ACU. In turn, nursing students from ACU come to study at CUA.
"We came to CUA to build on the relationships that our two universities share," explains Father Casamento. "Specifically we came to learn about the way CUA integrates faith and ministry into the life of the University, both for staff and students. We also looked at student life issues - mental health, tracking academic success, and residential life."
During the visit, the administrators got a chance to learn about the similarities and differences between the two universities and exchanged ideas on how to address issues that both universities face.
ACU is a public university funded by the Australian government, a difference that surprised some from CUA who met with Father Casamento and Cummins. It consists of six campuses, and most students commute to school. CUA is a private institution consisting of just one campus, where more than 60 percent of undergraduate students reside.
Nevertheless, administrators from both institutions stressed the common elements they share.
"We may have different organizations and operate in different countries, but we have so much in common as we strive to serve our students with excellence and distinction in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition," says Pervi.
"We learned that both our universities share similar issues and face similar challenges in areas of Catholic identity and mission and in terms of student life," adds Father Casamento.
Father Casamento and Cummins spent the day attending sessions led by CUA staff on topics such as mental health, residence life, and student academic progress. They also had lunch with CUA students, and joined a campus tour led by other students.
Cummins described the students she met as "very impressive." The opportunity gave the students the chance to serve as ambassadors for CUA and to learn how a foreign university operates.
"I came away with a deeper appreciation of how culture shapes the academic environment" says Steve Serafin, a senior business major who ate lunch with Father Casamento and Cummins. "Ultimately, since we are Catholic universities, I was happy to see such a vivid example of our 'universal' church in action."
Emily McDonald, a sophomore media studies major, escorted the Australian administrators around the campus.
"During our walk, we discussed the differences between Australian residence halls and our residence halls here at CUA," she says. "I learned that Australia is a very secular country so at their university, they do not have large churches. They thought the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception [next to CUA's campus] is very beautiful."
Pervi noted that the ACU and CUA administrators hope to continue this dialogue and collaboration in the future.
"This is just one example of a meaningful partnership we can continue to cultivate and grow on a global scale with our fellow Catholic higher educational institutions," she says.