Sept. 12, 2012
At CUA's annual Convocation, held Sept. 12 in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, first-year students are formally received into the academic community and invited to join its shared pursuit of truth.
This year saw a number of changes that reinforced the idea that the entire University - not just a student's individual school - is that academic community.
Catholic University Provost James Brennan said, "We changed the time of the convocation this year to morning so that students could attend with their learning communities, emphasizing their collaborative educational journey."
Learning communities are a key component of Catholic University's First-Year Experience (FYE). Freshmen are grouped in 18-member communities studying together for four courses, two in fall and two in spring.
"Because students take their FYE courses in a common block on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, the change in time worked very well in terms of attendance," reported Brennan.
In this way, he said, "We focused on students' identification with the whole University as the academic community rather than on focusing on the different schools."
The choice of Professor Susan Duggin of CUA's Columbus School of Law as the Convocation speaker was also noteworthy, said Brennan. "Professor Duggin comes from a school of the University that has no undergraduate programs per se, yet is very linked to the entire institution, again reinforcing the theme of the whole University as an academic community." Students also heard from President John Garvey, Brennan, and other University administrators.
In her speech, Duggin encouraged the Class of 2016 to create their own "stories" at Catholic University. "You've always had a story, but, until now, your parents and family have been your directors, producers, publicists and editors," Duggin said. "As you begin your college career, you are at an amazing point in your lives. Your story is yours to shape in whole new ways ."
Professor Duggin, who is also an Episcopal priest, captivated the assembled students, faculty, and administrators with an exciting story of her own - being separated from her husband and son during a tour of the "narrow, curving streets of the Kasbah of an ancient North African city" - and examples of how stories constitute the human world.
"The Class of 2016 comprises talented students recruited nationally and internationally. We're so glad they are here and now officially part of the academic community that is The Catholic University of America," noted Provost Brennan.
To read Duggin's speech, click here .